Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West Demonstration Project

In the Fall of 2008, researchers met with the construction manager and conducted an initial evaluation of their homes including duct and whole house air tightness testing. Researchers outlined changes necessary to reach Energy Star and the HERS Index 70 target (see BAIHP recommended Gulf Coast Package).

Figure 1: West St. Tammany Habitat high performance affordable prototypes.

In 2009, this affiliate completed two prototype homes (Figure 1), one slab-on-grade and one pier foundation. Testing on both houses was completed in September of that year. The slab-on-grade house’s duct system was too leaky to qualify the house for ENERGY STAR (Qn=0.09); however the pier foundation home qualified and exceeded the HERS Index target with a score of 64. The home incorporated the BAIHP Gulf Coast Package along with increased attic insulation (R-38), an ENERGY STAR SEER 15 heat pump, and ENERGY STAR lighting package. 

BAIHP also partnered with Louisiana State University’s AgCenter program and West St. Tammany Habitat to present a workshop for home builders on June 23, 2009 in Covington, LA. Louisiana licensed builders participating received two CEUs. Two additional CEUs were available for participating in the site visit portion of the workshop. There were twenty attendees; of 18 reviews submitted 17 were favorable, with one attendee wanting more LEED for Homes material.

Partner contact information:

Brandon Strunk, Construction Director
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West
1400 North Lane
Mandeville, Louisiana 70471
Phone: (985) 893-3172 or (985) 892-5261
Fax: (985) 893-2822
Email: info@HabitatSTW.org

Website: http://www.habitatstw.org/index.php