Local Habitat for Humanity chapter plans to build solar-powered home

"Going green" is the catchphrase of the year it seems.

Television shows are dedicated to helping people lessen their carbon footprint on the planet, but it's a process that involves more than recycling yesterday's newspapers.

"It's something you can do everyday," said University of North Alabama senior Sihya Smith. "Instead of paper plates, wash a plate. Instead of using Styrofoam cups at the coffee shop, take your own mug."

Smith and other members of the Habitat for Humanity chapter at UNA decided to go green on an even larger scale.

Even before the group finished building its first home in September 2006, members had decided their next project would be a zero-energy, solar-powered home, totally eliminating energy costs for the family it housed, making it the first of its kind for a Habitat home in the state.

Because of the unusual nature of the home, however, additional costs would have to be covered.

Cynthia Burkhead, chapter advisor and English instructor, said $70,000 would be needed to cover higher construction costs. Already more than $26,000 has been raised, thanks to a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The group has also received $20,000 from TVA.

"Along with that, we plan to involve TVA employees in the building process because it's not just about giving money; they give back to the community, too," Burkhead said.

Chapter members have sought donations from the campus community by asking faculty and staff to purchase a square foot for $40.

"We're going to start building May 15th whether we've finished raising the money or not," Burkhead said. "We've still got a lot to get done between now and then."

Sabrina Balch, chapter president and a professional writing major at UNA, said she was able to use her education to learn the grant-writing process that would make the zero-energy home possible.

In turn, "we became more expert on green homes than some of the experts we were talking to about this," she said.

Auburn University architecture students got in on the act, too, by designing the home, which will use solar panels to generate electricity, Energy Star appliances and walls made of structurally insulated panels made of foam between two sheets of plywood. The home's reflective metal roof is also designed to maximize its use of solar energy.

Students even considered the walls, as each one gets a coat of an environmentally-friendly paint that has low emissions of volatile organic compounds.

"Our goal has always been to raise awareness in the community," Balch said. "Now, we feel like we can make lessening our environmental impact on the Earth within everyone's reach."

Being so close to the project has brought the need to be as eco-friendly home to chapter members, too, even on a college student's budget, which is often limited.

"We can all do a better job of taking care of the environment," said Jennifer Butler, a master's student in English. "Just by changing the types of light bulbs we use from incandescent to energy-efficient fluorescent can make a big difference."

The home, which will be 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, will be on a lot in the Sheffield utility district that is owned by the woman who will occupy the new construction with her three grandchildren. An added bonus of the location is that the family will be able to sell any unused energy back to the city.

As part of the ADECA grant, students will monitor the home's energy consumption the first year.

Burkhead said she anticipates the project will be completed before the start of the school year in August.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@timesdaily.com.