Habitat's BIG Plans for Homes in Maine

Okay, more proud talk about Maine. We have a green affordable housing project going on here too, and it’s BIG. Build it Green (BIG) is a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland initiative to create the first LEED-H certified affordable residential model home in New England. The area’s most gifted architects, interior designers, builders and volunteers got together in an inspired charrette to design a place with a small footprint, a smart look, and the ability to stand up to harsh maritime winters. They are going for certification in the areas of energy and water efficiencies, responsible site design, recycled materials and durable construction. Pretty impressive for low cost housing (see rendering below). With a little luck and a lot of hard work, H4H of Greater Portland hopes to set a new standard for eco-responsible home construction in the Northeast. Fundraising for the project is also innovative. The idea is to sell the first completed model to the highest bidder in order to raise awareness and enough money to pay for three more homes just like it to house some of the area’s neediest families. Groundbreaking on the four-house lot is set for October 11. Business and personal sponsorship opportunities still exist for those who want to support this fabulous plan. Plenty of folks have donated their time, services and building materials. The group now needs cash. Anyone with a handy checkbook can call or write to Dan Wallace at Habitat.