Habitat for Humanity of Kent County + Greenbuilding =
A Journey of Sustainability

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) certification, 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 2005, forming The Habitat Educational Partnership Program with funding from the Wege Foundation.  This program uses the construction of a Habitat home as a green building learning laboratory for college students in the Grand Rapids Community College M-Tech program. and 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Grand Rapids Public School system.
  • In 2006, building the first 'LEED Certified Affordable Home' in the nation, as awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
  • In 2007, making the commitment to build all future homes LEED certification.
  • Partnering with Metropolitan Hospital in October 2007 to deconstruct the hospital’s Boston Street facility, saving tons of useable materials and items from the landfill which were re-sold at the Habitat ReStore for $25,000 profit to build homes.
  • Receiving the Corrie Bair Inclusive Communities Award for Housing for building homes with universal design and zero step entry from the State of Michigan Disabilities Council.

Sustainability Through Education

Last year the Wege Foundation assisted Habitat for Humanity of Kent County’s further exploration of the requirements of LEED 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-Tech program and their LEED qualified 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 all LEED certified Habitat homes into the future.  As a consequence of education by the Wege Foundation about LEED and the encouragement from the Wege Foundation 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 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.