7/26/2019 Building Habitat Homes With Concrete

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

By: Joe NasvikAffordable homes built by Habitat for Humanity now exist in over ! countries" #n the $nited %tatesthere are &'!! regional Habitat offices (referred to as )affiliates)*, with the to+ !! affiliates buildingfive or more homes each year" heir goal is to build the maximum number of homes +ossible with the

funds they raise each year" he homes are intended for low-income families and that.s why Habitatstrives to build homes that are energy efficient--so owners will s+end less for energy, leaving moremoney for other necessities"

Among Habitat for Humanity leaders the bu//word is )volunteers,) the goal being to build homes usingthe fewest +aid +rofessionals and the most volunteer hel+" 0hen one decides to build a home using adifferent technology, the determination is based +artly on volunteers available to build it" Andwhenever +ossible, affiliate offices +romote +artnershi+s with manufacturers to donate buildingmaterials and technology" his bringing together of volunteers and manufacturers is the motivationbehind ! new concrete Habitat homes in Houston, New 1rleans, and Atlanta" And the results havebeen very satisfying to all +arties--es+ecially the new homeowners"

0hy these homes are im+ortant to Habitat

2ach region of the country has its own s+ecial +roblems with housing, but all Habitat affiliates agreethat durability, safety, and affordability are the most im+ortant concerns" Jim 3ate, executive directorfor Habitat in New 1rleans, says that the New 1rleans 3arish (county* has the fourth-lowest averageincome in the $nited %tates" Habitat therefore takes great care to make homes there affordable--notmore than 45!,!!! +er unit" his +art of the country also has +roblems with rot, fungus, and termites"3ate says that 6ormosan termites have invaded their area, so building with wood frame constructionre7uires +ressure-treated lumber and other +recautions" And all of the homes on his +ro8ects areelectrically heated, making energy efficiency a high +riority" 3ate adds, )0e work to meet the 2nergy%tar re7uirements whenever +ossible")

#n Houston, exas Habitat develo+ment director 9ave 9aniels says it currently builds 5! homes +eryear, making it the nation.s fourth-largest affiliate" 0ith the goal of building as many homes as +ossiblewith the limited funds available, the +artnershi+ of com+anies involved in the construction of concretehomes has enabled them to build more homes in the Houston area this year"

he +roblems of home building are similar for iles c;abe, executive director of Habitat in Atlanta--cost is critical" he average home ranges in si/e from