Groundbreaking for Habitat House

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley will held a ceremony to commemorate breaking ground on the first Atmos Energy sponsored Zero Net Energy Home in Virginia. The build site is located at 5472 Stafford Drive in Dublin.

An Atmos Zero Net Energy (ZNE) home is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes within a year, which results in zero energy consumption. ZNE homes are expected to have a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index score of 0, meet Energy Star v3.1 criteria, and qualify for the EPA’s Indoor airPLUS certification. This is achieved by using high-efficiency natural gas heating, water heating, and air conditioning equipment, building envelope efficiency, and rooftop photovoltaic solar technology.

Atmos donated $160,000 for the project, which is the estimated cost to complete construction.

Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley will build the ZNE home in partnership with Setter Construction and Pulaski High School’s Career and Technology Education (CTE) program so that trades students can get real world, hands-on experience.

“This is an exciting collaborative effort,” said Kim Snider, Resource Development Director for Habitat for Humanity. “We are grateful to Atomos Energy for choosing to sponsor a ZNE build in the New River Valley. We are also grateful to Setter Construction for working with our construction team to mentor the Pulaski CTE students. This project will result in an efficient and affordable home for a hardworking family in Pulaski County.”

The ZNE home will have 1,245 sq. feet of living space, have three bedrooms, two baths, and a 1,245 sq.ft. walkout basement.

Qualifying Habitat for Humanity homebuyers meet three criteria:

They have a need for affordable housing
The ability to pay an affordable mortgage (earning 30-80% of the median income in the county where they live)
Willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity and commit to 200 volunteer hours

About Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley:
Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley serves Montgomery, Giles, Floyd and Pulaski counties and Radford City. It is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.

All are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize; Habitat does not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.