Tulsa's building community is continuing its partnership with TulsaHabitat for Humanity on a groundbreaking project that it hopes will change the face of Habitat homes.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa (HBA) will complete its second Home BuildersGreenBlitz from October 22-27. During the weeklong event, members of the Association will constructthe first-ever green-certified Habitat home using exclusively American-made products.
The construction will kick off with a wall raising at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 22 at 1031 E. Zion St. inTulsa. The home will be completed and dedicated on Saturday, Oct. 27. when the keys will be presentedto home buyer Tameka Brown, a single mother who has completed the Tulsa Habitat for Humanityprogram.
Every product used in the construction of the GreenBlitz home was manufactured in America, fromscrews and lumber to windows and light fixtures. The team worked together with local distributors andsearched around the country to locate manufacturers for cost-effective, high quality materials made in theUSA. The goal was to showcase American-made products and maximize the project's impact on theeconomy.
"It was recently reported that if every builder in America used 5 percent more American products,220,000 jobs would be created," said John Madden, a certified green builder from Tulsa andchairman of the GreenBlitz project. "When Tulsa builders heard the report, we made a collectivedecision to rise to the challenge by using more American-made products in our individual businessesand to promote the concept among the building community and the general public alike. Expandingthe GreenBlitz project for Habitat for Humanity to be 100 percent American-made was the perfectopportunity to further the initiative."
In addition to American-made components, the new home will feature advanced technology such as ageothermal heating and cooling unit and advanced insulation products that will lower operating costs andhelp with resource conservation. These and other high efficiency, environmentally-friendly features willqualify it for the PSO Energy Star Homes Program and green-certification by the National Association ofHome Builders, making it the second green-certified Habitat home in Tulsa.
"This project is a great opportunity for our local building industry to give back to a fellow citizen,however, we are most excited that our efforts will truly go beyond today," said Bill Butts, president ofthe HBA. "Our goal is to create a more cost-effective, efficient option that can be adapted for all Habitathome buyers across the country, and at the same time, support American manufacturing in a way that willmaximize home building's impact on the economy."
To complete the project, more than 100 volunteers from over 60 local building companies will tap intomembers. The build will be one of the fastest projects ever for Tulsa Habitat, and for most of the area's
builders. Most traditionally built homes take a minimum of 60 days to construct, but volunteers will beworking 12 hours per day to squeeze a typical construction schedule into one week. The speedy timelineis commonly referred to by Habitat for Humanity International and Builder Associations as a "blitz."
"The objectives of Habitat for Humanity and the Home Builders Association are very similar, we strive tomake homeownership attainable for all," said Paul Kane, CEO of the HBA. "This project has been a greatteam effort, and we are extremely proud to be able to help one more family achieve the American dreamand have a place to call home."
The Home Builders GreenBlitz project was funded through monetary, labor and product donations bymembers of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa.
