Habitat for Humanity Bay-Waveland Area house wins 2011 National Green Building Award

SALT LAKE CITY (June 1, 2011) –Habitat for Humanity Bay-Waveland Area has been awarded the 2011 National Green Building Award for the Affordable Project of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders. The group achieved this honor thanks to its work on a house constructed in 2010 that received NAHB’s Emerald certification—its highest green building standard.

“While building our houses to meet green certification standards is the right thing to do for our environment, it also has a direct impact on our homeowners,” said Wendy McDonald, executive director of Habitat Bay-Waveland. “The energy efficiency of these homes means they will have much lower electricity and water bills each month. And that makes their homes more affordable.”

The award was presented during the 2011 National Green Building Conference and Expo in Salt Lake City. The ceremony recognized builders from around the nation for their excellence in green building and advocacy during the previous year.

“These awards recognize and celebrate the most forward-thinking builders and remodelers in green building,” said Bob Jones, immediate past chairman of NAHB and a builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “These award winners are pushing the envelope of what we can achieve with energy and resource efficiency.”

The home features materials such as Bluwood, Galvalume roofing, open-cell spray foam insulation, fly ash concrete and Energy Star appliances.

In 2009, Habitat Bay-Waveland made a commitment to build all its new houses to the green certification standards of the National Association of Home Builders Research Center and the U.S. Green Building Council. To date, the Habitat affiliate has 57 houses that are either certified or in the process of being certified.

“We congratulate Habitat Bay-Waveland for receiving this national recognition that highlights their commitment to building homes and improving their community,” said Larry Gluth, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada for Habitat for Humanity International. “We also thank NAHB for recognizing this effort to build affordable housing that is sustainable for low-income families.”

About Habitat for Humanity Bay-Waveland Area
Habitat’s work in Hancock County, Mississippi began after Hurricane Katrina damaged and/or destroyed 70% of the housing stock in the Gulf Coast community in 2005. Since then, Habitat has partnered with more than 7,000 volunteers, donors, partners and friends to build 185 homes for families in need. In recognition of its outstanding progress, Bay-Waveland Habitat was named Affiliate of the Year in both 2009 and 2010 by Habitat for Humanity International. While much work has been done, much work remains.

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, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than two million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit Habitat.org.

About NAHB
The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 160,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. NAHB is affiliated with 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB’s builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for this year throughout the United States.