Green Initiative

Habitat for Humanity Tucson cares about the environment and makes every effort to reduce its carbon footprint on our planet. Click The Local Trust’s logo below to find out your carbon footprint or read more about how Habitat for Humanity Tucson is going green.

On September 11, 2008, at our 7th annual Building Freedom Day, Habitat for Humanity Tucson began implementing an initiative for all new build sites to recycle drywall, lumber, steel, copper, mixed plastic and cardboard.

These four homes were completed in June 2009 and were the first Habitat homes to receive a HERS rating of 69, Energy Star certification and Pima County’s first Silver Standard green certification.

A High School Build home, completed in June 2010, features all edible lanscape (ten fruit trees) with 90% of their annual water demand met by passive greywater and rainwater. The greywater system used on that home is the test installation for all future Habitat homes; it uses water from the home’s tub, shower, and two vanity sinks along with a simple gravity flow to mulch basins. No pumps, filter, tanks or exposed water were used and the basins, which are large enough to support worst case surge, expect no flow to storm water system.

Thanks to a grant, our the 2012 Women Build home was Habitat Tucson’s first LEED compliant home.  And, for the past several years we’ve partnered with Watershed Management Group (WMG) to add passive water harvesting and greywater features that enhance the landscape and reduce water and utility bills on new Habitat homes.  Read more about this partnership on page 10 of WMG’s newsletter here.

Please help us continue to go green by donating the funds
for items that help our homes qualify for green certifications!

Designate your gift today.

> Donate Now

Here is a list of just some of the standards Habitat Tucson has in place to ensure energy efficiency in Habitat homes.

Six inch thick exterior walls to provide better insulation Low-e insulated windows that increase efficiency Two foot roof eave overhangs where space allows providing more shade and protection Exterior studs located 24 inches on center to maximize insulation capacity Box headers that allow two inch blue foam insulation above windows and doors High density blue foam Stucco Mate sheathing to add extra insulation All exterior windows and doors sealed with sill seal caulk and spray foam Compact fluorescent lights All HVAC duct work sealed internally and tested to TEP energy guarantee standards Building designs incorporate an air conditioned attic to reduce demand on HVAC system Low-flow toilets and showerheads Landscape designed with drought tolerant plants with low water demand and trees located to maximize shade

We plan to continue the evolution of our commitment to sustainable design and green building including passive and active solar design, greywater plumbing, and adherence to community standards like the City of Tucson’s green certification program.