Habitat for Humanity

On Saturday, December 15, Habitat for Humanity celebrated the completion of nine affordable, eco-friendly homes in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. The homes, which were built with the help of volunteers on a once-vacant lot on Marcus Garvey Boulevard, are constructed of eco-friendly building materials, including cabinets partially made of sunflower seeds and counter tops made of recycled glass. As part of its nation-wide eco-initiative, Habitat for Humanity has assembled a Green Team Leadership Group, a group of about thirty experts in energy efficiency, green building, architecture and construction. Three principles guide Green Team building projects:

1) energy efficiency, including wise use of construction materials
2) sustainability
3) maintenance of good indoor air quality

The team encourages builders and designers to construct homes with minimal impact on the environment. Team members also urge affiliates to incorporate a plan for reclaiming and recycling leftover materials, minimizing the use of natural resources and reducing the impact on the land.

Beyond the physical structure, they also address human health issues, striving to create buildings that are free of toxic materials and that can be heated and cooled with the least amount of energy. In cities around the country, Habitat for Humanity is incorporating green features like improved insulation, Energy Star appliances, fluorescent light bulbs, solar panels, and low-e panels into many of the homes it builds.

Habitat for Humanity has always been a great organization, and now that it's going green, it's only getting better! This holiday season, if you're looking for a good cause to which to donate, consider Habitat for Humanity, and if you do, be sure to commend them on their green initiative.