[getsmart-l] Habitat for Humanity Toronto completes Canada’s first ‘green’ home project

[Media Release]

Emacs!

Emacs!



Media Release - For Immediate Release - Photos available

Thousands of volunteers help build ten ENERGY 
STAR® qualified homes for families in need

(Scarborough, ON, August 19, 2007)  Today, over 
200 Habitat for Humanity Toronto volunteers, 
donors, and partner families celebrated the 
completion of phase one of the first-ever ENERGY 
STAR® development that Habitat for Humanity has 
constructed in Canada.  The celebration 
culminated with 10 families receiving the keys to 
their new, environmentally friendly Habitat homes.

"This represents a very special day, not only for 
energy efficient home building, but for the 
families who have been given an opportunity
to establish a life and plan for their 
children's' future in a responsible and cost 
saving manner," said Corey McBurney, Managing 
Director of EnerQuality Corporation, which 
oversees the Energy Star for New Homes initiative in Ontario.

Annette Verschuren, President of The Home Depot 
Canada & Asia echoed the sentiments. "As Habitat 
Toronto's largest supporter and sustainable 
partner, this project is one of our proudest 
moments.  It's about giving back to our 
communities and to the environment we all share."

Low income families may spend up to 17% of their 
total income on energy to operate their 
homes.  ENERGY STAR® for New Homes is a label 
given to homes that meet balanced, whole-house 
energy-efficiency standards, guaranteeing their 
owners significant energy savings. New homes that 
receive the ENERGY STAR® label are approximately 
30% more energy-efficient than those built to the 
minimum Ontario Building Code standards. The 
money that the partner families will save on 
energy will help them with mortgage payments, 
food and clothing costs, and other essentials.

  "The Habitat homes at 4200 Kingston Road 
showcase our commitment to energy-efficiency and 
environmentalism. Our 'green' build will directly 
translate into savings in operating costs for 
Habitat families, and create savings for Habitat 
that can be allocated to the next set of homes 
slated for construction" said Habitat for 
Humanity Toronto CEO Neil Hetherington.

Land donor Ed Clark added, "I admire that Habitat 
for Humanity Toronto is a lean and sustainable 
organization. The dollars raised are not 
relegated to overhead--but to put roofs over 
people's heads." The land donation represents the 
largest donation of its kind by a family in Canadian Habitat history.

The Home Depot Canada, Habitat Toronto's Partner 
in Sustainability, and the affiliate's largest 
corporate donor, is mobilizing employees to 
volunteer every day of the Blitz. Community 
Builders on the project include Direct Energy and 
Enbridge, whose employees are also participating 
in this "finishing touches" build. Home Donors 
include BILD, CSA Group, GWL Realty Advisors 
Inc., Manulife Financial, Maple Leaf Sports & 
Entertainment Ltd., Ontario Power Authority, 
Schneider Electric, and TD Bank Financial Group. 
All home donors have contributed both financially 
and through employee volunteer engagement.

EnerQuality Corporation along with Air Solutions, 
are proud to support Habitat for Humanity Toronto 
as leaders in building Energy Efficient Sustainable Housing.


ENERGY STAR® for New Homes is a label given to 
homes that meet balanced, whole-house 
energy-efficiency standards, guaranteeing their 
owners significant energy savings. New homes that 
receive the ENERGY STAR label are approximately 
30 percent more energy-efficient than those built 
to the minimum Ontario building code standards. 
The ENERGY STAR mark, used with permission, is 
administered and promoted in Canada by Natural Resources Canada.

Habitat for Humanity Toronto is a non-profit, 
non-denominational Christian housing 
organization. Habitat welcomes all people without 
discrimination to join us to build simple, 
decent, affordable homes in partnership with 
low-income families.  One hundred percent of all 
administrative and fundraising costs are paid for 
by the operation of three ReStores, which sell 
donated, quality new and gently-used renovation 
materials. Habitat for Humanity has built more 
than 225,000 homes with families in need in over 
100 countries. Every 21 minutes, Habitat for Humanity builds a new home.

-30-

Habitat for Humanity contacts:

Neil Hetherington, CEO
(416) 755-7353 x 223
Cell: (416) 436-4190
neil at torontohabitat.on.ca

Kim Smiley, VP Marketing & Development
(416) 755-7353 x 235
Cell: (416) 436-4191
ksmiley at torontohabitat.on.ca

EnerQuality Corporation contact:

Michelle Cote, Account Manager
Cell: (416) 305 3671
michelle at enerquality.ca


Emacs!


*The ENERGY STAR for New Homes initiative in 
Ontario has the support of government and private 
sector partners, including Natural Resources 
Canada, Ontario Power Authority, Enbridge Gas 
Distribution, the Canada Mortgage and Housing 
Corporation, DuPont Tyvek, Icynene, Owens 
Corning, OZZ Corporation and Union Gas.


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