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Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and GRID Alternatives Partner for Energy-Efficient and Affordable Housing at Recent Solarthon
Ten PV Solar Electric Systems will Help Partner Homeowners Live Green & Save Green
Los Angeles, CA – November 15, 2011: Recently, GRID Alternatives hosted its annual “Solarthon” at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ (HFH GLA) Imperial Highway neighborhood. These ten homes are the first affordable LEED® certified homes in the City of Lynwood. Environmentalists, community advocates, elected officials, individual volunteers, HFH GLA and their partner homeowners were all on-site to support sustainable building practices and install all ten solar electric systems in one day.
The Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric systems were the finishing green touch on the Imperial Highway neighborhood homes. Reflecting HFH GLA’s longstanding commitment to sustainable building practices, the ten homes in this neighborhood feature energy efficient lighting and heating systems, Energy Star appliances, water efficient toilets and showerheads, tankless water heaters, sustainable and locally manufactured carpet, as well as native draught-tolerant landscaping. Green building elements like these not only reduce environmental impact, but also provide long-term savings to HFH GLA’s low-income partner homeowners. HFH GLA has built and renovated more than 400 homes for hardworking, low-income families and individuals throughout the Greater Los Angeles area and more than 50 of these homes have been built to meet LEED® requirements.
“During the Jimmy Carter Work Project in 2007, we built the first Habitat for Humanity homes in Southern California to be LEED® certified,” said Erin Rank, President & CEO of HFH GLA. “Through partnerships with organizations like GRID Alternatives, our affiliate continues to be at the forefront of sustainable and affordable building, which is a benefit to the environment and our partner homeowners.”
Active PV solar technology is one of many key elements of HFH GLA’s green building practices. In addition to partnering with GRID Alternatives, HFH GLA received a donation of PV solar panels from Fox Broadcasting Company. They were originally provided to Fox by SolarWorld to green the Primetime Emmy® Awards. These panels will help at least 25 more families reduce their energy costs.
HFH GLA’s environmentally friendly practices go beyond the build site and can also be seen in its two ReStores. The Gardena and Norwalk ReStores are home improvement thrift stores and “e-waste” collection sites that help to fund HFH GLA’s building efforts, as well as divert reusable materials from local area landfills.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (HFH GLA) strives to eliminate substandard housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families and individuals in need to build simple, sustainable and affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated more than 700 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals. HFH GLA is a GuideStar® Valued Partner. For more information, please visit http://www.habitatla.org or call 310-323-4663. Visit our blog at http://buildingagreaterla.blogspot.com.
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