Call for Applications
The Alabama Association of Habitat Affiliates is pleased to announce
the availability of six affiliate grants aimed at promoting design and
construction strategies which will lower homeowner family energy costs
and raising affiliate understanding of sustainable design and
construction best practice. This program is a collaboration between
AAHA, Auburn University, and the Home Builders Association of Alabama.
Financial support for this program comes from an anonymous donor.
AAHA Sustainable Home Ownership Grants are available at two levels:
Level I: Star EnergyKey Grants:
The Star EnergyKey grants are intended to help affiliates reach the
goal of building homes which require at least 23% less energy to heat,
cool, and operate (HERS 77 or better). Affiliates can reach this goal
by designing and constructing homes to meet the standards of the EPA's
Energy Star homes program.
A total of 10 Star EnergyKey Grants were available in 2012; five
remain. These grants are earmarked for Alabama affiliates that have
not had prior experience or success at building homes to the Energy
Star certification standard.
The Star EnergyKey grants include the following:
A $200 scholarship to support HBAA EnergyKey training for the
affiliate lead on the supported house.
A $700 grant to cover costs of a certified, 3rd party, Energy Rater. A
certified Rater will provide pre-construction energy modeling,
pre-drywall construction inspections for insulation installation, and
post-construction verification testing.
A $2000 grant to be applied to construction costs for the supported
home.
A HBAA Star EnergyKey certification fee waiver ($200)
AVAILABILITY: There are five Star EnergyKey grants available.
Level II: Green EnergyKey Grants:
The Green EnergyKey grants are intended to help affiliates with prior
experience building to Energy Star standards progress towards a
broader standard of sustainable design and construction, including
resource conservation, indoor air quality, water conservation and
more. Homes built with the support of the Green EnergyKey grants will
meet the standards of HBAA's Green EnergyKey certification program. A
checklist of Green EnergyKey criteria can be viewed at
www.alabamahabitat.org/asg
The Green EnergyKey grants include the following:
A $200 scholarship to support HBAA EnergyKey training for the
affiliate lead on the supported house.
A $700 grant to cover costs of a certified, 3rd party, Energy Rater. A
certified Rater will provide pre-construction energy modeling,
pre-drywall construction inspections for insulation installation, and
post-construction verification testing.
A $3000 grant to be applied to construction costs for the supported
home.
Design support from Auburn University's DESIGNhabitat program. The
DESIGNhabitat program staff will provide construction documentation,
specifications for systems and materials, and construction phase
support for sponsored homes. Affiliates may select from a portfolio of
homes designed to meet the Green EnergyKey standard, or work with the
DESIGNhabitat program staff to modify a design previously used by the
affiliate to meet the Green EnergyKey certification standard.
A HBAA Green EnergyKey certification fee waiver ($300)
AVAILABILITY: There is one Green EnergyKey grant available.
How to Apply?
Affiliates wishing to apply for an AAHA Sustainable Home Ownership
Grant should
complete an application form.
Applications can be found at
http://alabamahabitat.org/asg/ASG_Application_R_Two.pdf
When to Apply?
The second round of grant awards will be made based on applications
received no later than
May 15, 2012.
When can we access EnergyKey training for our project supervisor?
EnergyKey training (required by the grants) will be conducted during
the Alabama Georgia Mississippi Affiliate Conference in April. Other
training session opportunities are in development.