Habitat, Drury to celebrate sustainable housing project

The event is a joint celebration by Habitat and Drury University. Drury students designed and built the house, which is expected to become the first platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified home in the country, according to a news release.

Third-year Drury architecture students began the research and design process for the home in January 2007, combining environmental design elements and Habitat’s affordability standards.

Construction began in August 2007, when 300 Drury freshmen used a service day opportunity to build the home’s walls. Drury professor Traci Sooter, who instructed design-build students on the house, became project manager this year, and students, faculty and staff have continued working on the home.

Among the sustainable, energy-efficient features in the home are concrete floors and recycled plastic carpeting, radiant floor heating, a solar water heater, Energy Star appliances, dual flush toilets and a pervious concrete driveway.

During the open house beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Habitat family partner Amy Pinegar and her children will celebrate the last stages of construction on their home.

See SBJ’s May 19 issue for more environmental news in In Focus: Environmental Issues.