Green Experiment for CTC Students
A new Habitat for Humanity house has become the guinea pig in an effort by county high school students to help a future homeowner save money.
Cherokee Technology Center students are working to secure an Energy Star rating by building an energy efficient house. This international standard involves using energy efficient consumer products and smaller residential heating and cooling units to reduce energy consumption.
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian nonprofit organization that works to make home ownership a reality for local residents. The houses are sold at no profit and no interest to selected homeowners, who make low monthly house payments and must spend 300 volunteer hours to help build their new home.
Carpentry teacher Johnny Breitenbach estimates the future Habitat for Humanity homeowner could save as much as $50 a month on their utility bills in the energy efficient home being built by students.
“This is the first time our students have ever attempted to build an energy efficient house,” Breitenbach said. “This is a much tighter building plan where we have to do very specific things, like air sealing around windows to reduce the amount of outdoor air that goes into the home.”
The Cherokee Technology Center building trade classes have helped volunteers build houses for Habitat for Humanity since 2003.
“We are always looking for new things we can teach students to help prepare them to be successful in the construction industry,” Breitenbach said. “We wanted our students to learn how to build a more energy efficient house. This is a great education opportunity for our students.”
The house is expected to be ready for its energy rating inspection by the end of the month, Breitenbach said. The inspection will look at the home’s duct work, heating
and cooling systems, and overall
construction practices to determine
whether it meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements for an Energy Star rating.
Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as houses, save energy consumption of between 20 and 30 percent.
“Our students are learning a valuable skill they will need for working in the construction business,” Breitenbach said. “There is going to be a great demand to build houses that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly in the future.”
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