Green Building

Green Building Mission Statement

To construct environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and healthy residential homes while maintaining the guidance of simple, decent and affordable housing.

Energy Star Certified Homes

Each of our homes undergo a third party verification that we are in compliance with the EPA’s program guidelines for the Energy Star Program.
The Energy Star Program is designed to, at a minimum, produce homes that are 30% more efficient than the requirements of the 2003 IECC.
Participation in the Energy Star Program is currently an elective program.

Note: All Habitat for Humanity Detroit constructed homes exceed Energy Star standards and are certified.

Green Built Michigan Certified homes

Green Built Michigan focuses on the environmental impact of the building process. The program also aims to reduce the environmental impact the home has through its operation.
Some of the main areas of efficiency under the Green Built Michigan program are water conservation, indoor air quality, use of recycled and recyclable products, and energy conservation.

In-fill site development

In our planning and re-development of new homes, we focus on the re-use of existing lots. This may include splitting and combining several existing lots to create one buildable lot.
By using existing lots, we avoid having to modify otherwise undeveloped areas, thus reducing the environmental impact on virgin areas.

Recycled concrete in backfill areas

We use recycled crushed concrete in the backfill of the house in areas that will ultimately have concrete poured over them. There are a number of approved naturally occurring aggregates that are approved for this type of application, however, the use of crushed concrete allows us to gain the benefits of this type of practice while using a recycled material.
By utilizing the crushed concrete, we avoid significant settlement in these areas, thus reducing our warranty costs due to concrete replacement.

On-site mulching of tree trimmings and scrap lumbers

At the onset of construction, in most cases we need to clear existing non-native plants and trees that have grown on the lots. Rather than sending the organic materials to a landfill, or trucking them off site for mulching, we send the material through an on-site wood chipper for future landscape use.
With lumber scraps that do not contain harmful chemicals or glues such as formaldehyde, we perform the same on-site chipping as we do with the lot clearing material. We then stock pile these wood chips for use during landscaping and also make the wood chips available to the neighborhood residents for use in their own landscaping projects.

Prepare trees for construction impact

Prior to beginning construction, we develop an environmental plan for each lot. This allows us to identify native plants and trees that will not be affected by the construction of the new house.
Once plants and trees have been identified for either protection or removal, the trees worth saving are protected by wood chips under the drip line and wrapped by construction fence. The larger trees are also “elevated” (lower limbs trimmed) to avoid contact by construction equipment.

Stockpile good topsoil for future use

Prior to excavation, the top layer of soil is scraped and removed for future use. This practice, where applicable, allows us to re-use the topsoil from the community at the time of final grade.
In areas where the top-soil can not be salvaged due to existing environmental conditions, new top soil is supplemented at the time of final grade to provide a solid foundation of nutrients for grass to grow.

Efficient home floor plans

Our floor plans utilize nearly every square inch of available floor space as usable areas.
By making all of our homes accessible for use, our families can avoid heating “dead areas” or areas that are trapped behind walls and cannot be accessed.

Advanced framing techniques

Our framing practices include some of the most advanced framing techniques which reduce the amount of lumber needed to construct our homes without sacrificing the structural integrity, increasing the available wall space to be filled with insulation, and simplifying the construction process overall.
Some of the specific techniques used are:
- California or 3 stud corners
- 2″ x 6″ exterior walls
- 2′ on center stud spacing
- Use of energy heels on all roof trusses
- Let-in window sills
- Single ply window headers
- Absence of window headers on non-load bearing walls
- Engineered floor and roof trusses
- Use of knee walls at deck ends

Panelized wall systems

All of our homes are “manufactured” in a controlled environment then shipped to the job site for assembly. This allows us to reduce the amount of waste that is typically produced through on-site construction.
By panelizing our homes in a controlled environment, we gain the benefit of quality assurance prior to assembly. This reduces the amount of re-work to be accomplished in the field.

Enhanced foundation water proofing

All of our foundations not only receive an application of a damp proofing material, but they also have a R-5 insulation installed outside of the damp proofing material resulting in a warmer foundation wall that carries a 10 year no leak guarantee.

Use of recycled construction materials (carpet, concrete, drywall, etc.)

Carpet – We use type 6 carpet. Type 6 carpet refers to a carpet material that contains already recycled carpet, and can be recycled in the future, it is not an end use product.
Concrete – We install 1×3 crushed concrete in specified areas of our backfills to avoid future settlement thus reducing our warranty costs.
Drywall – A portion of the gypsum used in the manufacturing of drywall is supplemented with fly ash retrieved from coal burning power plants. This reduces the amount of gypsum that is mined, shipped and manufactured into the drywall board. The paper facing of the drywall also contains recycled material.

On-site recycling of many materials (metal, cardboard, plastic, vinyl)

We provide a variety of containers for use by our staff, volunteers and vendors that are intended to receive recyclable materials.
We separate and sort materials on site into the appropriate containers to be sent to the recycler once filled.
All of our non-toxic wood material is stock piled for future chipping and use during our landscaping application.

Air and energy sealing package

All of our homes receive an energy sealing package that includes the following activities to reduce the amount of air infiltration to the conditioned space of the home:
- Low expanding foam around all exterior doors and windows.
- High expanding foam in large gaps, around all wire penetrations to the electric boxes, and any exterior wall penetration.
- Caulking of bottom plate to sub-floor.
- Use of expanding foam material at all rim and band joist connections, including the foundation wall.

Energy Star Rated refrigerator

Through donation, we provide all of our homeowners with an Energy Star Rated refrigerator.

Energy Star Rated windows

All of the windows we install are Energy Star Rated windows for our climate zone.
This includes strict requirements for Solar Heat Gain Coefficient as well as a specified U-factor specific to our climatic zone.
We also utilize approved installation techniques designed to provide secondary water infiltration protection should the vinyl siding fail.

90%+ efficient furnace

The furnaces we use have an efficiency rating of 92%.
By using high efficiency furnaces, we significantly reduce the operating cost to our family partners.
The use of high efficiency furnaces allows us to directly vent the exhaust to the outside thus negating the need for a chimney, which reduces the penetrations through the thermal envelope of the home.

Tankless on demand water heater

Utilizing a tankless water heater, we save our family partners hundreds of dollars on an annual basis due to a reduction in the need to heat water while not needed.
Our water heaters only heat as it is needed. Because of this, there is a significant reduction in the amount of natural gas that is consumed heating water when it is not demanded.

R-25 exterior wall insulation

A result of our advanced framing techniques is the ability to heavily insulate our exterior walls ultimately reducing the amount of air infiltration to the conditioned space of the home.
We install R-19 batt insulation in the wall cavities of all of our exterior walls.
All of our exterior walls, gable ends and truss heels are covered with a 3/4″ R-5 foam board.
The result of our in wall insulation coupled with the use of the foam board produces in an exterior wall with an overall R value of 25.

R-49 attic insulation

Since we utilize an extension on the heel portion of our trusses, we are able to install a greater amount of insulation in the attic.
In the attic, our homes have a cavity R value of 13 with a continuous R value of 36 resulting in an overall R value of 49.
All of the attic scuttle holes are covered with R-60 pillow type insulation and caulked in place to avoid air communication from the conditioned living space to the unconditioned attic portion of the home.

Low V.O.C. paints and sealants

The paints and primers we use in our homes contain low or no V.O.C.’s (volatile organic compounds).
By using low V.O.C. paints and sealants, we significantly improve the indoor air quality by eliminating many of the harsh chemical odors typically associated with a new home.

All homes undergo 3rd party verification

A result of our participation in the elective energy and green building programs is the need to have 3rd party verification of all of the mentioned Green Building practices highlighted above.
Our homes go through our own internal quality inspections and standard city inspections to ensure code compliance and also verification by a 3rd party of our energy and green building practices.