Otsego County Habitat for Humanity selected to participate in Partners for Sustainable Building
Gaylord, MI August 18, 2011 – Otsego County Habitat for Humanity has been selected to participate in a national green-building initiative of The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International, called Partners in Sustainable Building.
Otsego County Habitat for Humanity is one of 125 Habitat affiliates across 38 states and the District of Columbia that was selected to participate in this year’s program. Otsego County Habitat for Humanity will be granted $3,000 for each home built to standards that address energy efficiency and water conservation and up to $5,000 for each home built to a program that also incorporates indoor air quality standards, durability and bulk moisture management.
“The generosity of The Home Depot Foundation will help Habitat for Humanity expand its green-building practices,” said Donna Quandt, Executive Director of Otsego County Habitat for Humanity. “We are excited to participate and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Partners in Sustainable Building program. We have a moral obligation to provide our low income partners with energy efficient homes. If we provide homes that they cannot afford to heat, we are setting them up for failure. We make every effort to equip our partners for success, sustainability is part of that effort.”
Since its creation in 2008, the Partners in Sustainable Building program has demonstrated that the initial costs of building to a green standard are modest and can be recovered by the homebuyers through savings on utility, repair and replacement costs over the course of a home’s mortgage.
“The Home Depot Foundation has long believed that green building is smart building,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “In today’s economic climate, energy efficient building practices, including sealing windows and doors, insulating walls and ceilings, and installing ENERGY STAR appliances and systems, are more important than ever, because they can actually put money back into homeowners’ wallets. Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International demonstrates that smart building ensures the long term financial and physical health of families.”
PSB is the first partnership between The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity at the national level in the United States.
“The Partners in Sustainable Building program has created excitement about the benefits of building to a recognized green standard within Habitat for Humanity,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “With the support of The Home Depot Foundation, we have a great opportunity to bring the economic benefits of sustainable building to our homeowners.”
About The Home Depot Foundation
Since its formation in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation has granted more than $270 million to nonprofit organizations improving homes and lives in local communities. To learn more and see our associates in action, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org, follow us on Twitter @homedepotfdn, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, visit habitat.org.
About Otsego County Habitat for Humanity
Otsego County Habitat for Humanity, a non-denominational Christian housing ministry, works in parntership to build or renovate adequate housing, creating stronger familes and a better community. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,” Galatians 6:10.
For more information, contact:
Otsego County Habitat for Humanity
Donna Quandt
Executive Director
989-732-6070
ed@otsegohabitat.org
Habitat for Humanity International
Kerry Kirkley
404-962-3440
kkirkley@habitat.org
The Home Depot Foundation
Paula Drake
941-488-1289
paula_drake@homedepot.com
Catherine Woodling
770-384-2304
Catherine_woodling@homedepot.com