For the past few months, members of Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity have been working to plan, design and build ‘green’ homes for those in need with the help of students and faculty in the OU College of Architecture.

Combining the collective efforts of about eight Sooners, the organization is working to provide individuals with special needs, both physically and financially, with six new affordable and certifiably sustainable homes within the next year, said project manager Josh Carson.

“To be affordable, the houses must have low utility costs and low maintenance costs as well as low construction costs,” said Bill McManus, chairman of the construction committee at Habitat for Humanity and construction science professor.

“We are able to do this with creative building science based design and dedicated volunteers who pay close attention to detail,” he said.

Carson, a construction science senior, said the process of building one of these homes takes about four to five months.

Carson said he believes getting involved in community service organizations and applying the skills you learn while at OU is one of the best things one can do for themselves and others.

“I felt like [Habitat for Humanity] would be a good way to take some of my skill sets and give back to the community,” Carson said. “I get to work directly with the homeowners living in these houses, and I develop a relationship with them, which I really value.”

The families who benefit from the construction of these homes greatly appreciate all of the hard work done by the volunteers involved in these projects.

“I can’t describe [my excitement],” said Anne Baker, a future homeowner. “We can’t just move into a house just like everybody else can. We have to have, what I call, a special house, and I feel that’s what they’ve made for me.”

OU interior design professor Elizabeth Pober helped with the construction design of homes for individuals with special needs, like Anne Baker, and acknowledges their appreciation.

“They’re incredibly thankful on so many levels because you’re basically helping to change their lives, and it’s a pretty emotional thing for them,” Pober said. “It’s extremely rewarding to be able to help better their life and help create a nice living space for them to build a better future in.”

The OU team members have provided a lot of much appreciated knowledge, McManus said.

“As a construction committee, we wanted to make this house as environmentally friendly as we could,” Carson said. “The goal of Habitat is to not just provide a low-cost house, but low monthly expenditures as well.”

He said the homes are insulated with 1 inch of foam on the outside of the house, which is something most home builders do not do. This element of construction will allow the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems to operate more efficiently, Carson said.

He also said they are using radiant barrier sheathing, a form of plywood, which is covered in a foil coating. This will help keep the heat in during the winter and will help retract the sun during the summer as it reflects the suns rays, he said.

In addition, Carson said they are using some of the most energy efficient windows bought in the marketplace. While these windows are relatively expensive, he believes they will make a world of difference.

The homes are also sided with fiber cement over a well-designed system of house wrap and flashing designed to carefully manage water over the full life of the house. The interior floors are ceramic tile, which will require minimal maintenance as well.

To learn how to get involved in Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity, please visit http://www.cchfh.org.