Challenge

Habitat for Humanity is known for using volunteer labor and donations to build homes, but the traditional method wasn’t sustainable due to high long-term costs for heating and maintaining the homes. Our goal was to find a more cost-effective and energy-efficient building method that would benefit homeowners in the long run.

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Our Approach

We introduced the Passive House model, working with an architect to design an energy-efficient home based on the family’s needs and Habitat’s constraints. This approach–while more affordable and sustainable for low-income families–was completely new to the Habitat team who relied on Makers to help guide the process.

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Over two years, Makers led the project, bringing on specialized partners and championing a new approach to Habitat’s construction. One of the biggest changes was prefabricating the main walls off-site, which reduced the assembly time to just 3 days compared to 3+ weeks for a traditional build. Volunteers then helped with the interior which kept the essence of the Habitat model alive.

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Impact

This new method revolutionized Habitat's approach, introducing a new model for homes to be more energy-efficient and reducing long-term costs for homeowners. The Passive House model provides lasting value while keeping build costs the same as traditional methods, setting the stage for more sustainable, cost-effective homes in the future.

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