Initiatives

Green Operations

Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County strives to be a leader in ecologically-sound office practices as well as green-homebuilding operations.  During Spring 2008 construction of the office and ReStore in Chalfont, Project Manager Mike Fallon ensured utilization of several environment-friendly ideas:

• Adaptive reuse of existing manufacturing facility into retail space and offices
• Motion sensor light switches
• Programmable thermostats
• Day lighting in common areas, office and ReStore (pictured)
• Permeable paving rear parking and driveway

Also in the office is an active recycling program where cans, glass and plastic are collected in the employee kitchen, and then taken to a recycling center by a staff member.  Recently, a server was installed that enables employees to work from home.  In allowing staff the opportunity to telecommute for part of their schedules, we hope to decrease our utility and sullpies use, as well as employee driving time.

Moving to new offices last year allowed the opening of the ReStore.  Everyone knows that the ReStore provides a place for community members to donate new or gently-used building materials, furniture, home decor and appliances, keeping tons of waste out of our landfills every year.  But do you also know that the ReStore provides a major recycling outlet for both the community and the Habitat offices?  Employees recycle all kinds of office waste including paper and  ink cartridges, while the public is invited to do the same -- as well as drop off metals, cell phones and car and truck batteries.

Green Homebuilding

Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County has been working in the northern end of the county for the last six years, concentrating efforts on developing and completing a mixed-income townhome community, Emerald Hollow Estates. Emerald Hollow was built in two phases and at it’s completion in the fall of 2008, will be a safe and affordable home to 73 Bucks County families (see following section).

With the completion of the upper Bucks County project, Habitat for Humanity is committed to focusing ta homebuilding program in the lower Bucks County area. We are thrilled to be at the drawing board, making plans to build in Bristol, on our Colonial Avenue property.  Currently, the Colonial Avenue project is in Land Development; we anticipate full approvals for four homes.

Colonial Avenue Homebuilding Program Overview
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County is committed to joining local and national green building communities in a large way with both this, and future building projects. In addition to meeting ENERGY STAR® standards, the Colonial Avenue homes will be built to receive the NAHB National Green Building Program™ Silver rating, with ambition to achieve the coveted Gold rating.

These certifications mean that future homeowners will not only be purchasing a safe, decent and affordable home, but also an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly one. Families’ utility bills will be greatly reduced by Habitat for Humanity’s green building, with projections of a 25-to-40% savings.

The following is a sample of the Colonial Avenue building specifications:

• Underground storm water retention basin incorporated with rain gardens and pervious driveways.
• Insulated interior concrete slabs with radon protection and vapor barriers.
• 2” x 6” exterior walls incorporating “optimum value framing techniques.”
• Isonene (formaldehyde-free) spray foam insulation.
• Fully insulated attic.
• ENERGY STAR-rated windows and exterior doors.
• 93%-efficient heat systems with 14 SEER Condensing Units and fresh air exchangers.
• Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints and adhesives.
• Green-labeled carpet and flooring.
• ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, ceiling fans and exhaust fans.
• ENERGY STAR-rated compact fluorescent light fixtures.
• On-site construction waste recycling.
• Water saver faucets and shower heads and dual flush toilets.
• Maintenance-free exteriors.
• Homeowner education and review of the Homeowner’s Maintenance Manual.

These green building initiative will not be limited to Colonial Avenue, of course.  We're also planning the following for our very first adaptive reuse homebuilding program, on Chestnut Street in Perkasie.  The old Hubbert baseball factory, and most recently the Perkasie Senior Center, was originally constructed in the 1920’s. This project is unique because for its age, the existing brick and stone structure is in remarkable condition.  Habitat Bucks goal with this project is to keep the exterior integrity in tact and combine old world charm with green building techniques to create six two-bedroom condominiums, two of which will be handicap accessible.

The following is a sample of the Chestnut Street building specifications:

• Adaptive reuse building (the practice of adapting an existing structure and changing the use)
• Reduction of impervious paving
• The addition of Green space, native plants and native trees
• Rain barrels
• 2 x 4 over framing on all exterior walls (total wall thickness 16” including brick exterior)
• Isonene (formaldehyde-free) spray foam insulation. Including between floors for sound transfer
• ENERGY STAR-rated windows and exterior doors. €
• 93%-efficient heat systems with 14 SEER Condensing Units
• Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints and adhesives.
• ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, ceiling fans and exhaust fans. All homes will be wired for ceiling fans in all bedrooms, living room and kitchen
• Green-labeled carpet and flooring.
• Water saver faucets, shower heads and dual flush toilets.
• Residential fire suppression system in all units
• On-site construction waste recycling.
• Condo association
• Homeowner education and review of the Homeowner’s Maintenance Manual.

Mixed Income Communities

Emerald Hollow Estates is a two-phase community building initiative. The neighborhood consists of 73 townhome-style homes, each with living spaces of 1,100 to 1,600 square feet. At its completion, Emerald Hollow will boast seven acres of open space with the possibilities of walking trails and a community center.  Located in Upper Bucks County in Trumbauersville and Milford Township, the project is recognized as one of the biggest and most innovative mixed-income Habitat projects in the Northeast region.

Phase One:

• Building began Nov. 2001 and completed in Jun. 2005.
• Has eight clusters of townhomes.
• Is located in municipalities of Trumbauersville Borough and Milford Township.
• Utilizes a three-tier model in which each third of the homes are either an EH1, EH2 or open market model.

Phase Two:

• Groundbreaking took place in 2005, building will continue until 2009.
• Has seven clusters of townhomes.
• Is located in Milford Township.
• Utilizes a two-tier model in which one-third of the homes are EH1 and two-thirds are EH2.

While previous building projects by Habitat Bucks have been very meaningful, they have only been a bandage on the challenge of providing decent, affordable housing in Bucks County. Skyrocketing costs of land force more and more people to move away or continue living in substandard housing. Simply put, the demand for affordable homes for a broader socio-economic group of people is not being met by the current conventional housing options.

The Emerald Hollow model succeeds in providing decent, affordable homes for a wider range of families, eliminating out-dated misconceptions of affordable housing developments, building a diverse community with a village concept and maintaining a larger percentage of open space via cluster housing.

ReStore

The Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County ReStore, opened in the summer of 2008, is one of our grandest and most exciting initiatives yet!  The ReStore has two objectives:  to fund the mission of Habitat Bucks, and to provide the community a sustainable way to both donate and shop for home goods.

How the ReStore fundraises:  Proceeds from the ReStore help fund the construction of Habitat houses within the community, as well as support the operational costs of the affiliate. Many affiliates across the United States and Canada operate successful ReStores—some of which raise enough funds to build an additional 10 or more houses per year.

How the ReStore "greens:"  The ReStore provides a place for community members to donate new or gently-used building materials, furniture, home decor and appliances, keeping tons of waste out of our landfills every year.  Additionally, instead of buying new furniture and accessories, our customers can recycle and reuse in style by shopping at the ReStore.  Reduce, reuse, ReStore!

"America has long been ridiculed around the world for being a throwaway society. On average, each one of us tosses out four and a half pounds of garbage every day, adding up to a whopping total of 245 million tons per year."

Additionally, the ReStore serves as a recycling hub for both the Habitat offices and community.  The ReStore collects the following:

• Paper, including shredded material, catalogs, magazines, newspapers, junk mail, notebooks, folders
• Cell phones
• Ink cartridges
• Car and truck batteries
• Metal, including non-working appliances

>  Visit the ReStore webpage!