In the News Sign up for Newsletter
Home Center
NOW WE'RE INKJET, CELL PHONE, LAPTOP RECYCLING!
IRHFH is beginning a new community which can not only benefit Habitat for Humanity but also help alleviate the rapidly growing environmental problem of "e-Waste" in our landfills. We are now recycling cell phones, ink cartridges, laptops and computers with EcoPhones, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council - and we need your help.
Just dust off that old cell phone, empty inkjet cartridges or laptop* and bring them to the Habitat office, 4568 N. U.S. 1, in Vero Beach. Call Jessica Schmitt @772.562.9860 X229 for more info.
* Laptops will have their hard drives removed and destroyed.
Founded in 2001, EcoPhones is a leader in cellular phone fundraising and recycling. Working with more than 30,000 organizations and communities nationwide, EcoPhones' participants have generated more than $2.5 million through the donation and recycling of obsolete cellular phones.
DID YOU KNOW?
More than 100 million cellular phones are stockpiled in U.S. households, creating potentially hazardous waste.On average, Americans replace their cell phones every 12-18 months. Unfortunately, each phones contains eight toxic substances including: Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc. If not properly reused or recycled, these toxins can leach into the soil and groundwater, posing serious environmental and health risks, For example, the cadmium from a single phone is capable of polluting 158,200 gallons of water. (That's 1.2 million 16-oz. coffees!) It takes about 600 pounds of fossil fuel and chemicals to create the chips for one personal computer. 70 pounds of water are used to rinse out impurities in a single chip. The amount of waste generated to produce one laptop is close to 4,000 times its weight.
We are Now
Accepting On-Line Donations!
|
Habitat Thinks GREEN!!
We Build
Every Home with
a Solar Water Heater
Vero Beach, Florida - At a time when low-income families need help more than ever, Indian River Habitat for Humanity has stepped up to the plate. The last 33 homes built by the affiliate in Indian River County have included a solar water heater.
After building the first Habitat home in the State of Florida to be certified per Florida Green Building Coalition’s Green Home Standard in 2006, the affiliate began to investigate additional energy saving measures. Paying a little more on the front end really pays off in the long run, particularly for lower income households. A 2001 publication by the United States Department of Energy states, “Solar water heaters…can reduce annual operating costs by 50% to 80% or more using “free energy” from the sun.”
Since the fall of 2007, Indian River Habitat has partnered with local company Climatic Solar to install the solar water heaters in each Habitat home in the County. The affiliate participates in the SunBuilt Program, an incentive program for builders with the goal of increasing the use of solar water heating in new residential construction.
Habitat is considered a Gold SunBuilt Builder for pledging to offer solar water heating as a standard feature in all its new homes. Through this program, Habitat receives $500 to offset the cost of each solar water heating system. Based on availability of funds, Habitat homeowners may also apply for a $500 rebate through the State of Florida Solar Energy System Incentives Program.
Habitat ENERGY STAR Homes
Habitat is currently partnering with the Florida Solar Energy Center and volunteer Banks Clark of Environment, Safety and Health, LC to certify all of its homes according to ENERGY STAR standards. To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes must be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC).
Recent homes in Habitat’s 36-home Grace Woods community have scored a Home Energy Rating (HERS) Index of 73, which means that the homes are an incredible 27 percent more energy efficient than a home built to Code. Habitat also participates in Florida Power & Light’s Build Smart Program. BuildSmart representative Robert Lacerda inspects and tests each home, and FPL donates $450 per home to Habitat plus an additional $25 per home because the affiliate is building more than 25 homes per year.
Using Environ-mentality
Beyond solar water heating, Habitat has committed to other environmentally friendly and energy efficient measures such as: drought resistant landscaping and no irrigation systems to minimize water usage, almost all Compact Fluorescent light bulbs to increase energy efficiency and cost savings, no carpet to prevent off-gassing of fumes into the home, hip roofs for storm durability, and radiant barrier plywood on the roofs to reflect heat.
Of Course Habitat Recycles
Habitat facilitates a 15-member Green Team comprised of staff and volunteers. The team meets monthly to discuss measures that will improve Habitat’s environmental stewardship in the office, Home Center store, and worksites. The team manages a worksite recycling program that accepts scrap wood, metal, cardboard, and plastic. Since January alone, the scrap metal collected at the worksites and Home Center store have earned $13,485 in revenue. Green Team members convert wood scraps into bird and doghouse kits for sale in the Home Center store with funds benefitting the “Prep Club” for Habitat high school students. As the sign posted on the worksite proclaims, Habitat is turning “trash into cash.”
We Practice What We Preach
Indian River Habitat won an Aurora Award from the Southeast Builder’s Conference for green construction, a Promising Practice Award from the Council for Sustainable Florida, and the Indian River County Green Construction Award for constructing a green home in partnership with builder WCI Communities.
|
Garbby and Green Team pals relax at Habitat's playhouse with samples of the dog houses and bird houses volunteers have been building with recycled wood scraps brought to Habitat. Part of the proceeds from the sale of these items goes to Habitat's Scholarship Fund to assist children of Habitat homeowners.
Habitat "Green Home" Homeowner Alfrida Allen and friends stand with Habitat's WCI Communities partners at the dedication of Habitat's first "Green" house, in Grace Grove. WCI partnered with Habitat in building the home, which received recognition from the Council for Sustainable Florida.
Grace Woods homes have solar water heaters, with a solar panel on each roof.
Radiant barrier plywood
Habitat recycles many materials on the job site.
|
