Habitat for Humanity
of Kent County
425 Pleasant Street SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone (616) 774-2431
Fax (616) 774-4120
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5 pm
Saturdays
By Appointment
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709
Phone (912) 924-6935
Toll Free 1-800-HABITAT
Habitat for Humanity
of Kent County
425 Pleasant Street SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone (616) 774-2431
Fax (616) 774-4120
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5 pm
Saturdays
By Appointment
Habitat for Humanity International
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709
Phone (912) 924-6935
Toll Free 1-800-HABITAT
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A Journey In Sustainability
85 Registered LEED Projects
70 Certified LEED Projects
61 Average HERS Rating
In 2004, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County staff attended a seminar at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to learn more about the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and the overall value of green building. The seminar was hosted by the Wege Foundation, which was founded by Peter Wege, son of Steelcase founder Peter Martin Wege.
Mr. Wege is a steadfast champion for the environment. With his educational guidance and the Foundation’s financial support, Habitat’s West Michigan green building initiatives have made monumental strides, including:
- In 2009, we became a member of the nation's first statewide green home certification program, Green Built Michigan.
- In 2010, partnering with over a dozen organizations to continue revitalization efforts in the Wealthy Heights Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Future home of HFHKC's first home utilizying renewable energy!
- In 2011, partnering with Dow, Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Kent County, Habitat Kent became part of the US Dept. of Energy's Building America program, testing cost efficient energy retrofits on existing homes. The findings of this research will impact the energy usage of our housing stock across the nation.
- In 2011, we received an award for "Outstanding Program Commitment" for the the Annual winner's circle for U.S. Green Buidlling Council's LEED for homes award. Check us out in USA Today.
Sustainability Through Education
Throughout the years the Wege Foundation assisted Habitat for Humanity of Kent County’s further exploration of the requirements of LEED for Homes certification. Our second LEED certified home sponsored by the Wege Foundation gave us the time to do two things: review the benefits of green building for Habitat homebuyers and calculate Habitat’s extra costs for doing the right thing, i.e. adopting green building.
The results speak for themselves:
- The second Wege/Habitat LEED home was constructed by students from the Grand Rapids Community M-TEC program and their green building instructor.
- Thirty young building students were educated in current green building practices and upon graduation will bring those skills onto the local construction scene.
- Habitat discovered that it costs approximately $8000 more to incorporate green building and zero step entry into Habitat home building per house and that the long-term benefits to the homebuyer and the environment justify the expense.
- It is estimated that annual savings costs for electric, water, and heating will be at least $1,000 per home per year. The extra money available every month eases the hard decision “food or heat?” for families who live close to the poverty line.
- Over the life of each homebuyer’s 25 year mortgage, the savings equates to $25,000 at minimum – money a family is able to invest into strengthening their future.
Commitment to Green
Lessons learned since 2004 have given Habitat the background and expertise to make the commitment to build 100% LEED for Homes Certified. As a consequence of education and encouragement by the Wege Foundation about LEED and through generous grants, we have become a local, regional and national example of green energy efficient low-cost housing construction.
It is with heartfelt gratitude and a mutual respect for instituting sustainable practices that we wish to thank the Wege Foundation for helping us become a powerful example of environmental stewardship locally, regionally and nationally.
- For more information on green buidling, check out our resources section in the Press Room, or What is a LEED for Homes Certified home?
- A recent national article also pays tribute to Habitat for Humanity of Kent County's commitment to greenbuilding. Click here to read the story.
- For more information on energy saving tips and reducing your carbon footprint, click here.
85 Registered LEED Projects
70 Certified LEED Projects
61 Average HERS Rating
In 2004, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County staff attended a seminar at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to learn more about the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and the overall value of green building. The seminar was hosted by the Wege Foundation, which was founded by Peter Wege, son of Steelcase founder Peter Martin Wege.
Mr. Wege is a steadfast champion for the environment. With his educational guidance and the Foundation’s financial support, Habitat’s West Michigan green building initiatives have made monumental strides, including:
- In 2009, we became a member of the nation's first statewide green home certification program, Green Built Michigan.
- In 2010, partnering with over a dozen organizations to continue revitalization efforts in the Wealthy Heights Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Future home of HFHKC's first home utilizying renewable energy!
- In 2011, partnering with Dow, Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Kent County, Habitat Kent became part of the US Dept. of Energy's Building America program, testing cost efficient energy retrofits on existing homes. The findings of this research will impact the energy usage of our housing stock across the nation.
- In 2011, we received an award for "Outstanding Program Commitment" for the the Annual winner's circle for U.S. Green Buidlling Council's LEED for homes award. Check us out in USA Today.
Sustainability Through Education
Throughout the years the Wege Foundation assisted Habitat for Humanity of Kent County’s further exploration of the requirements of LEED for Homes certification. Our second LEED certified home sponsored by the Wege Foundation gave us the time to do two things: review the benefits of green building for Habitat homebuyers and calculate Habitat’s extra costs for doing the right thing, i.e. adopting green building.
The results speak for themselves:
- The second Wege/Habitat LEED home was constructed by students from the Grand Rapids Community M-TEC program and their green building instructor.
- Thirty young building students were educated in current green building practices and upon graduation will bring those skills onto the local construction scene.
- Habitat discovered that it costs approximately $8000 more to incorporate green building and zero step entry into Habitat home building per house and that the long-term benefits to the homebuyer and the environment justify the expense.
- It is estimated that annual savings costs for electric, water, and heating will be at least $1,000 per home per year. The extra money available every month eases the hard decision “food or heat?” for families who live close to the poverty line.
- Over the life of each homebuyer’s 25 year mortgage, the savings equates to $25,000 at minimum – money a family is able to invest into strengthening their future.
Commitment to Green
Lessons learned since 2004 have given Habitat the background and expertise to make the commitment to build 100% LEED for Homes Certified. As a consequence of education and encouragement by the Wege Foundation about LEED and through generous grants, we have become a local, regional and national example of green energy efficient low-cost housing construction.
It is with heartfelt gratitude and a mutual respect for instituting sustainable practices that we wish to thank the Wege Foundation for helping us become a powerful example of environmental stewardship locally, regionally and nationally.
- For more information on green buidling, check out our resources section in the Press Room, or What is a LEED for Homes Certified home?
- A recent national article also pays tribute to Habitat for Humanity of Kent County's commitment to greenbuilding. Click here to read the story.
- For more information on energy saving tips and reducing your carbon footprint, click here.
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