The Dallas chapter of the nonprofit organization, Habitat for Humanity, is using new technology to provide energy-efficient homes for single mothers, families, and low-income residents.
Local volunteers from the organization are using Insulated Concrete Form (IFC ) construction to build a home for a single mother of two, Yizet Tomb. The technique of building with IFC is similar to placing pieces together like Legos, according to Fox 4. The walls of the home have a four-inch cavity that is “filled with concrete for insulation and structural support.”
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association donated the concrete for Tomb’s home. Gregg Lewis of the association stated, “The insulated concrete form system ultimately provides the highest performing building envelope that you can build. And so the homeowners that are going to have this home are going to enjoy not only extremely low energy bills to keep their home comfortable, they’re also going to have an extremely quiet home.”
According to the Great Nonprofits website, “Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity transforms neighborhoods by engaging families and community partners in creating affordable housing.”
The Habitat for Humanity website explains the great need for affordable housing: “Because of increased housing costs and growing income inequality, nearly one-third of households in the United States face cost burdens, with housing requiring either 30 percent of their income (cost-burdened) or 50 percent (severely cost-burdened). These burdens leave more than 38 million households with little income to afford the cost of food, health care and other basic necessities. With nearly 19 million severely cost-burdened households in the US, advocating for affordable housing for homeowners and renters is as important as ever.”
Tomb said, “Habitat is amazing, an amazing project I would say… I’m thankful to the Habitat volunteers.”
Her house is scheduled to be completed in March.
Tomb’s home is one of fifteen Habitat for Humanity projects currently under construction nationwide using the IFC technology. The organization aims to build homes in all fifty states using the IFC techniques.
