Habitat makes public appeal to build "green" house for family
From
Penticton Herald Newspaper
Home will feature rammed earth wall, solar water heating,
shylights and energy-saving windows, appliances.
Habitat for Humanity will soon begin construction of a small
two bedroom house at 12 Huth Ave. in Penticton.
Design by local architect Cal Meiklejohn, it will use
environmentally friendly features throughout.
It will also be an attractive house, and the members of the
young family chosen by Habitat, John Draus, April Turford
and their baby daugther chloe, are delighted at being able
to eventually move into this house. John, who is a
carpenter, is looking forward to helping build it.
It will feature a rammed earth wall on street side, solar
water heating, an aerothermal heat pump, tubular skylights
over dark areas, roof overhang on south side to shade the
summer sun but allow winter sunlight to shine in, zero or
low VOC paints and finishes, Energy Star Windows and
appliances, rainwater collection, and more.
When completed, the family will buy the house at the cost of
Habitat to build it. This cost is kept low by use of
volunteer labour and donated materials. Grants have been
received from Royal Bank and the City of Penticton, and
others are being applied for.
There is, however, still considerable expense in building
the house and donations are needed to cover the cost of
materials that must be purchased. Donations can be mailed
to: Habitat for Humanity South Okanagan, Box 23021,
Penticton, BC, V2A 8L7 or
www.habitatsouthokanagan.ca and click on Canada Helps.
Also needed are volunteers for a variety of jobs.
construction volunteers must have taken a safety course
provided by Habitat. Some of these course have been
completed and others are in the planned stage.
But Habitat's work does not end with the construction of the
house. Volunteers are needed for the following positions:
- An experienced fundraiser to conduct either one large
fundraising project or a series of smaller ones.
- Assistance with the volunteer management program.
- Assistance with public relations.
- Someone to do computer data entry.
- A person or group to be the contact with churches.
- Experienced construction workers to act as crew leaders for the building site.
- People to make and serve lunches for the construction workers.
- People experienced with property for land acquisition committee.
- People willing to serve on the board of directors are always welcome.
This house has been a dream finally realized, of outgoing president Dr. Florence Barton for the past four years. The organization is now in the hands of new president Lynn Popoff, vice-president Merle Kindred and construction supervisor Barry Chickloski. Barton will continue as the contact to help the family in the transition to becoming homeowners.