Washington, DC – August 10, 2010 – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Habitat for Humanity Lake County, and Bank of America, have teamed up on this year’s Greenbuild Legacy Project. Two affordable green homes will be built in Lake County, Ill. funded by a $125,000 donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The construction of which will coincide with USGBC’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, November 16-19, 2010. Each year, the Greenbuild Legacy Project Committee selects a project to give to its host city as a symbol of our gratitude for hosting Greenbuild and to share with that region the benefits of green building.
Habitat for Humanity has been very successful in providing affordable housing to families they determine can handle the financial and maintenance obligations of the new homes they build. The anticipated energy and maintenance costs of ownership figure prominently in qualifying potential future homeowners. This project is designed to demonstrate, through the cooperative effort of various local consultants, product manufacturers, and volunteers, the idea of green, affordable housing. A network of volunteers from USGBC, Bank of America Community Volunteers and Habitat for Humanity will work alongside the families to complete the construction of the two homes.
“Because of Bank of America’s generous funding and Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers who will build two LEED Platinum homes for the 2010 Greenbuild Legacy Project, two families can rest assured that their homes are not only affordable, but are built with high-performance, energy and resource efficiency and quality of health in mind, thereby ensuring they continue to save money over the life cycle of the home,” said Kimberly Lewis, Vice President of Conferences and Events, USGBC. “Greenbuild attendees will have the exclusive advantage of witnessing much of the construction, providing not only a learning opportunity for building and design professionals, but also to educate on the importance of making affordable homes synonymous with green homes.”
“Bank of America is proud to partner with the U.S. Green Building Council and Habitat for Humanity Lake County to build affordable green homes that will dramatically impact the lives of two families in Waukegan,” said Tim Maloney, Illinois and Chicago market president, Bank of America. “The green attributes of these homes will not only help the environment, but also benefit the families that will live in them through reduced energy and utility bills, as well as an overall improved quality of life.”
Both homes will have the same floor plan and appearance but will be built using two different construction methods. The Greenbuild Legacy Home project will feature state of the art ICF and panelized construction, while the second home, targeted for 75% competition by Greenbuild, will be built using conventional stick construction as an opportunity for Greenbuild attendees to view its construction process. Currently both homes are aiming to achieve LEED for Homes Platinum certification. Construction cost data and performance will be tracked and published for both homes once both are complete. USGBC’s commitment to affordable green housing extends beyond Greenbuild, as fully 40% of the homes in the LEED for Homes program are affordable.
“Both Bank of America and the U.S. Green Building Council are leaders in providing innovative solutions to affordable housing needs. Through their support we will provide additional homes for low-income families,” said Julie Donovan, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Lake County. “In addition, we will set the stage for future energy-efficient building through the experience and knowledge we gain during this build. We appreciate the exceptional support from both Bank of America and the US Green Building Council.”