Habitat building green homes in Lake County

Habitat for Humanity Lake County has been building affordable homes since 1989 but it just starting to delve deeply into green construction.

Two affordable homes being built side-by-side on 11th Street on Waukegan's far south side will be certified as meeting the U.S. Green Building Council's most rigorous Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standard.

Both will have the same floor plan and appearance. The difference is the one at 1517 11th St., will use insulating concrete forms as a new construction method for the nonprofit housing ministry.

Habitat has built 130 homes in its history but it didn't go green until 2009.

"Last year, doing the first one was a big step because we had a lot to learn about the process," said Julie Donovan, executive director. "Each year we try to tackle a few extra things where we can try to continue using techniques and materials that are better."

Representatives from the Portland Cement Association were on site Thursday erecting the concrete and foam wall systems, which are said to require an estimated 25 percent less energy to heat and cool than comparable frame houses.

The walls of one of the homes, literally will be made of cement as an energy saving measure. The home has been designated as the 2010 showcase project to coincide with USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Nov. 16-19 in Chicago.

Habitat is teaming with USGBC on the so-called legacy home project and the adjoining home, which are being funded by a $125,000 donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

Green building has become a popular catchall term for incorporating energy-saving techniques and other measures - such as providing for a maximum of natural light - in new buildings and renovations.

Concrete is used in about 4 percent of new single-family home construction but is becoming more popular in the U.S., according to Donn Thompson, director of low-rise buildings for the Portland Cement Association.

"The green building movement is really taking hold and energy efficiency is becoming an important consideration," he said. "The Europeans have been building with concrete forever."

Concrete will be used for countertops, flooring (with radiant heat), siding and roof tiles, and the driveway will be built of a permeable concrete to reduce stormwater runoff.

Volunteers from Habitat, USGBC, Bank of America and others will work with the eventual residents to build the homes. Habitat is a self-help model in which the residents must invest 500 hours of their own labor on the construction of their home.

Donovan said the work will set the stage for future energy-efficient projects.