Building Habitat homes with concrete-a natural choice for building energy-efficient,affordable homes

By: Joe Nasvik

Affordable homes built by Habitat for Humanity now exist in over 80 countries. In the United States
there are 1600 regional Habitat offices (referred to as "affiliates"), with the top 200 affiliates building
five or more homes each year. Their goal is to build the maximum number of homes possible with the
funds they raise each year. The homes are intended for low-income families and that's why Habitat
strives to build homes that are energy efficient--so owners will spend less for energy, leaving more
money for other necessities.
Among Habitat for Humanity leaders the buzzword is "volunteers," the goal being to build homes using
the fewest paid professionals and the most volunteer help. When one decides to build a home using a
different technology, the determination is based partly on volunteers available to build it. And
whenever possible, affiliate offices promote partnerships with manufacturers to donate building
materials and technology. This bringing together of volunteers and manufacturers is the motivation
behind 20 new concrete Habitat homes in Houston, New Orleans, and Atlanta. And the results have
been very satisfying to all parties--especially the new homeowners.
Why these homes are important to Habitat
Each region of the country has its own special problems with housing, but all Habitat affiliates agree
that durability, safety, and affordability are the most important concerns. Jim Pate, executive director
for Habitat in New Orleans, says that the New Orleans Parish (county) has the fourth-lowest average
income in the United States. Habitat therefore takes great care to make homes there affordable--not
more than $50,000 per unit. This part of the country also has problems with rot, fungus, and termites.
Pate says that Formosan termites have invaded their area, so building with wood frame construction
requires pressure-treated lumber and other precautions. And all of the homes on his projects are
electrically heated, making energy efficiency a high priority. Pate adds, "We work to meet the Energy
Star requirements whenever possible."
In Houston, Texas Habitat development director Dave Daniels says it currently builds 50 homes per
year, making it the nation's fourth-largest affiliate. With the goal of building as many homes as possible
with the limited funds available, the partnership of companies involved in the construction of concrete
homes has enabled them to build more homes in the Houston area this year.
The problems of home building are similar for Miles McCabe, executive director of Habitat in Atlanta-cost is critical. The average home ranges in size from 900 square feet to 1400 square feet. Because of a
partnership that has developed between two formwork manufacturers, Western Forms and Wall-Ties
and Forms, they'll be able to build more homes this year--an additional 15 is their goal. McCabe thinks
these homes also will be good for the area because there won't be the termite problems associated with
wood construction.