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comment Pilot Program Proven Sustainable Success
In April 2008, when the Home Depot Foundation joined with Habitat for Humanity for a pilot program in sustainable building, both organizations were unsure of what to expect in terms of success. 263 homes later, the Partners in Sustainable Building (PSB) have expanded the initiative to $30 million over the next five years with a goal to build 5,000 additional homes.
The intent of the program was to prove that green is not a luxury, with the results confirming to both groups the affordability of sustainability; the upfront costs were modest and recovered through utility and energy savings. Through energy efficiency and water-conserving methods, early results recorded savings of 15 to 30 percent in the PSB houses. Some of the homes designed to the equivalent of LEED Platinum standards will save up to 50 percent.
With this announcement, the PSB made sure to stress that the program is not necessarily about curbing emissions and protecting the environment, though that is obviously an added bonus. The main intention was based on pure economics—to save money. More and more the sustainable building discussion is moving from environmental concerns to the bottom line of financial savings.
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“By embracing the practical principles of green building, our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International is demonstrating that these techniques can actually make homes more affordable to own, maintain and live in from day one and for the long term.” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation, in a statement.
