Habitat for Humanity promotes home in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Columbia city officials say they hope an energy-efficient home being built by Habitat for Humanity will be a model for future low-income housing projects.

The "net-zero" home in Columbia includes solar panels and a solar water heater, low-flow plumbing fixtures and LED lighting, along with 45 percent more insulation than previous Habitat homes. It also will be completely accessible for the disabled, The Columbia Missourian reported (http://bit.ly/19vvWij ).

"The home will be sealed so tight that it will need an energy recovery ventilator to circulate air throughout the house," said Bill View, executive director of the Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity.

About a year ago, city staff asked nonprofits to submit designs for homes that low-income families could afford. Habitat for Humanity's proposal was chosen largely because it included solar panels, Columbia Housing Program Supervisor Randy Cole said.

The design proposal includes an estimated construction cost of $110,000. The city donated $65,000 to the project from funds it sets aside for community development programs run by nonprofits, and the city's water and light department contributed another $18,000, Cole said. Habitat for Humanity funded the rest of the project.

Habitat for Humanity will sell the house through a real estate company for $107,000. Eligible families or individuals should earn less than 80 percent of the average income for Boone County, meaning a family of four must earn less than $52,800.

View said Habitat for Humanity hopes to complete the home between late-spring and mid-summer of 2014.