Dec. 14, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity (DAHFH) and Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI) for building 40 energy-efficient homes.
The organizations found innovative ways to provide quality housing using standardized construction templates while working under a tight budget. DSSI paid for energy-efficient upgrades in the homes.
DSSI partners Texas A&M University, the TEES Energy Systems Laboratory and TexEnergy Solutions conducted a study to gauge energy savings and cost-effectiveness the efficiency upgrades would provide. The results showed that the families will use 10-12 percent less energy for three bedroom homes and 21-22 percent less energy for two bedroom homes when compared to the standard building code in effect at time of construction.
The homes, located in Frazier Courtyard in Dallas, are part of DSSI’s Affordable Green Homes Initiative that began in 2008.The homes were among the first Habitat For Humanity homes in the country built to LEED Silver standards, the US Green Building Council’s certification for environmentally friendly projects.
DAHFH, DSSI, EPA, Chase Dallas, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Innercity Community Development Corporation (ICDC) and JCPenney unveiled the final five homes to the Frazier community Dec. 11 in the Fair Park area of Dallas. The celebration "Look Who’s Home for the Holidays" marked the culmination of the public and private sector joint venture for sustainable housing.
The Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the City of Dallas, EPA and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCG) to promote sustainability and air quality improvements.
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity transforms neighborhoods by engaging families and community partners in creating quality affordable housing. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity’s vision is that all individuals and families live in thriving neighborhoods where hopes and dreams are realized for generations to come because poverty housing is socially, politically and spiritually unacceptable. For more information visit https://dallasareahabitat.org.
Community Sustainability is a partnership at the private and public level. EPA continues to encourage communities to take action to bring together diverse plans for a more sustainable community. Through programs such as Sustainable Skylines, communities can reduce public exposure to pollutants and improve respiratory health to enhance their residents’ quality of life.
More about activities in EPA Region 6