Energy-efficient Habitat home on HBA Parade

A Habitat for Humanity home is being featured for the first time on the HBA Parade of Homes.

The house at 1127 N. Heartland is a three-bedroom, two-bath structure and is handicapped accessible, said Donna Jones, executive director of Habitat. Most three-bedroom Habitat houses are about 1,080 square feet. This one is 1,300 square feet to allow for wheelchair accessibility and the extra bath.

Unique to this house is the use of insulated concrete forms.

Home builder Scott Kisling and Habitat Construction Superintendent Daniel Benoit teamed up to oversee the project.

Jones said that she has been interested in energy-efficient construction since the year 2000, but the organization didn't have anyone willing to spend the extra time in research and planning until Benoit joined the staff.

At a 2002 conference for Habitat International members, workshops were held on energy-efficient alternatives to conventional frame housing. Benoit became hooked on the concept.

"If we can do a house that costs a little more, but saves the families money in energy costs, we think it's worth it," Jones said.

Kisling, owner of Up-Tyte Construction, uses Reward Wall System, produced by an Omaha, Neb.-based company.

Kisling studied the track record of several ICF vendors before choosing this company for its success in the industry and because he likes the style of blocks they produce.

"I believe they are the leader in the field," he said.

Kisling said ICF construction adds about 3 percent to 5 percent to construction cost over frame construction, but the savings can be as high as 70 percent to 80 percent in utility costs.

"I don't think people realize it doesn't cost that much more," he said. "Besides savings on utility costs, homeowners can save as much as 20 to 25 percent on insurance premiums."

Kisling built a 12,000-square-foot ICF house in Highland Springs. The owner reported a $240 utility bill in December of last year.

Kisling estimated that figure to be about one third of the cost for a conventional house the same size.

Along with the savings, there are other benefits to ICF construction, Kisling said. There are no drafts, no hot and cold spots and noise is reduced.

Benoit said HBA is sponsoring the ICF house and many of the HBA home builders worked on the project, both in tracking materials and in the actual construction.

"Probably most of the membership was involved in some way in either the planning or construction," he said.

The total cost of the project has yet to be determined, he said.

"Typically a three-bedroom house will cost $47,500 with the sponsoring organization raising the funds and footing the cost of materials not donated," he said. "This house has special circumstances because of the many building resources HBA has to reduce the actual costs."

Benoit said Habitat will build several homes with various energy-saving factors and they will compare to see if the savings offset any extra cost of materials.

"We will not only compare cost effectiveness, but also how easy it is to train volunteers in the construction process," Benoit said.

Heading up the comparison research is Shawn Strong, assistant professor of industrial management at Southwest Missouri State University.

The Whirlpool Corporation provides, without cost, all the stoves and refrigerators for Habitat homes nationwide, according to Benoit.

"They send us Energy Star appliances for every house completed," he said.

Companies who provide energy-efficient products and are in interested in participating in the energy study can call Habitat for Humanity at 417-831-3841.