Our commitment to our partner families extends beyond just constructing homes. We strive to ensure that our partner families will live in homes that are energy efficient and affordable to live in.
Every new build undergoes a Home Energy Assessment for new construction by Efficiency Vermont, an organization which delivers energy efficiency services throughout most of the state.
The services that Efficiency Vermont conducts for low-income housing construction are based upon the HERS rating, which stands for the Home Energy Rating System. This standard is used across the US to evaluate a home’s energy efficiency ratings.
There are several parts to the energy audit that providers from Efficiency Vermont are involved in throughout construction, from planning to final inspection. Examples of their requirements include site inspections, testing systems, and analyzing the house’s energy usage.
“These inspections are very important because not only do we want to provide durable healthy homes that are going to last a long time and be healthy to live in, but we also want to provide homes that will be affordable to operate,” said Karen Bushey, who conducts many of the inspections for Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity homes.
The first inspection is called the pre-drywall inspection or thermal enclosure inspection. At this phase, the framing has been completed, and the teams begin insulating the home. Efficiency Vermont ensures that the homes are properly sealed to prevent air leakage.
The second inspection comes when the home is move-in ready. During this visit, Efficiency Vermont runs tests on the ventilation system, appliances, and lighting. They conduct a blower door test and inspect the windows, which determines the home’s air leakage rate. They use additional software to determine air quality, thermal values, and energy usage.
Together, the results of the tests determine the HERS rating. The scores range from 0-100, with 0 signifying a net-zero energy efficient home. Many programs aim for a score of 54 or below. Typically, Green Mountain Habitat homes score within the 40-range, which saves each homeowner an average of $1078 annually.
“It does a family no good when they move in and are not able to afford the upkeep and energy bills,” said Dick Shasteen, longtime volunteer, Habitat project manager, and former Board member.
Unlike for-profit developers, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity can take the time to ensure our homes are built to high standards because we are not focused on profits. We want to ensure that our families move into homes that are affordable and high quality.
“You can tell the teams really care about the home and what materials they’re putting in it,” said Karen.
Green Mountain Habitat homes also receive an Energy Star certification, which is another energy efficiency certification which has strict requirements established by the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program.
Efficiency Vermont also works with Green Mountain Habitat in other ways, such as piloting projects such as using alternative materials in builds. For example, we used glavel, a type of gravel made from recycled glass as sub-slab insulation in one of our most recent projects in Shelburne.
Together, our partnership shows that affordable housing can be made energy efficient. This relationship helps the planet, but more importantly, it helps our partner families save money while living in their homes.
“It is important for us to make sure that our homeowners are able to maintain their homes,” said CEO David Mullin. “I am also proud of our construction teams that they are able to build to such high standards while keeping the cost of the homes affordable for our partner families.”
With an efficient home, families are happier, healthier, and more financially stable.
To learn more about how Green Mountain Habitat helps improve families’ health or the environment, check out our blog.
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