Home will be Certified by U.S. Green Building Council for Meeting Environmental Benchmarks in Design, Construction and Operation
PONTIAC, Mich., Sept 04, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, with the support of Chrysler Financial and Gontina Building and Design, will raise the walls in Pontiac, Mich., this week on the first affordable "green" home in Southeast Michigan. The home, being built at 457 Ferry Street will meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards.
"Chrysler Financial is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Darryl Jackson, Chief Operating Officer - Chrysler Financial. "We are extremely excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity to not only benefit the Pontiac area, but the environment as well. It is remarkable to see what can be accomplished by bringing together local businesses and community members committed to the same goal."
Chrysler Financial employees will join volunteers from Habitat, in association with Gontina Building and Design who donated project planning, home design and LEED consulting services, to construct an environmentally- friendly, one-story home using building materials from Michigan-based companies. The completed home will use 30 to 50 percent less energy than other homes of similar size, saving the homeowner up to $1,000 per year in utility bills. In addition, the home will feature sustainable materials including bamboo and cork flooring and structural insulated panels, and accommodate the potential for solar technologies in a variety of areas. Other features such as low volatile, organic compound paint and paperless drywall in the bathrooms will provide a healthier indoor environment.
"We are thrilled to have Chrysler Financial as a partner in this historic building project for Habitat," said Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity International. "Green homes are not only good for our environment, but the substantial energy savings they foster also increase their affordability for families with modest incomes. And that's a win-win for everyone."
In 2007, the U.S. Green Building Council extended its LEED certification process to include homes in its nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED-certified homes give owners an immediate and measurable effect on their home's performance, measured in eight categories including innovation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
The project strives to become the standard in build and design for future Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County projects. The home will be sold to a qualified low-income family for a price that equals the Habitat cost of construction, which will be approximately $97,000. The completion of the project will be celebrated during a formal ceremony on Oct. 11, when the new owners will be presented with the keys to their green home.
About Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County
Millard Fuller established Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia, in 1976. A Christian ministry, Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people of all ethnicities, faiths and nations to make "a world where everyone has a decent place to live." Since its founding, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 250,000 homes for over 1 million people in 100 nations. Habitat for Humanity built its first home in Oakland County in 1994. Since then, its Oakland County affiliate has built almost 100 homes locally and in places such as Central America and the Gulf Coast of the United States. Habitat for Humanity is presently developing the Ferry-Central neighborhood in the city of Pontiac. For more information, visit www.habitatoakland.org .
About Chrysler Financial
Chrysler Financial offers automotive financial products and services to both dealers and consumers of Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. In addition it offers vehicle wholesale and retail financing to more than 3,600 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers. Currently, nearly three million drivers in the United States enjoy the benefits of financing with Chrysler Financial. Chrysler Financial has an employee base of 4,000 and supports a global portfolio of $70 billion. For more information, visit corp.chryslerfinancial.com .
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