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While Habitat projects typically address the initial costs of becoming a home owner, with the involvement of PATH the Syracuse homes are also helping to address utility and other operating costs that can pose a barrier to homeownership.
Supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, PATH is a public-private partnership that is dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance and affordability of the nation’s housing.
Because the homes qualify for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Energy Star program, the home owners will receive a $500 incentive and Habitat for Humanity will receive $1,000 per house.
The homes have been rated 40% more efficient than homes built under the 1993 Model Energy Code standards.
Carrier Corporation sponsored two of the homes; Nationwide Insurance and the Fayetteville-Manlius Consortium of Churches sponsored the other two.
“The involvement of NAHB Research Center staff was an extremely positive experience for us,” said Suzanne Williams, executive director of Habitat’s Syracuse chapter. “We very much appreciated their knowledge of Energy Star program requirements, and their willingness to introduce new technologies into the project.”
The Syracuse project is part of “The Houses That Congress Built,” a national building partnership involving members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the National Partners in Homeownership and Habitat for Humanity International.
To date, more than 400 members of Congress have participated in building Habitat homes in their own congressional districts.
Rep. Jim Walsh (R-NY), chairman of the VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee and a strong supporter of the PATH program, participated in the Syracuse project.
For more information on the project, e-mail Craig Drumheller at the NAHB Research Center, or call him at 800-638-8556.
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