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Affordable Housing Becomes More So at ‘Green’ Showcase in West Virginia

Christopher Sattes thought he would move out of Charleston - until he came upon EcoDwell.

A little more than five years after the Charleston Area Alliance hatched the idea of building affordable housing in Downtown Charleston to showcase the latest in Green Building techniques, Sattes, 23, purchased the three-bedroom home in the city’s East End for $120,000 and wasted no time capitalizing on its environmentally-friendly features.

Since EcoDwell was conceived in 2002, area architects, builders, engineers, financial institutions and others have paid close attention to the lessons that it has offered regarding design, construction and affordability, with an emphasis on pinpointing green features that are most cost-effective and replicable in other housing projects in the future.

The pilot project, funded in part with $50,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council, incorporates techniques that not only help the earth but also keep money in the new owner’s pocket:

• Fiberglass windows and exterior doors using fewer oil-based chemicals
• Engineered beams using less wood than traditional joists
• Steel roofing made of 50 percent recycled material that is 100% recyclable
• Structural insulated panels, house wrap and spray-on insulation that creates an energy-efficient environment inside the home
• Cement, not wood, siding
• Fluorescent light fixtures
• EnergyStar^® appliances
• A tank-free system that only heats water as it is used.

“When I rented, I felt like my money was being thrown away,” Sattes said. “Now, all my friends come over and they think it’s cool and high tech.” The first-time homeowner plans on developing a Web site so the community can track his monthly energy usage, which currently averages $40-50 for all utilities.

Two community organizations with a keen interest in Sattes’ experience are the Religious Coalition for Community Renewal and the Charleston Area Alliance. Each was an original sponsor of EcoDwell. The Coalition built a virtually identical home next to EcoDwell using traditional building materials and wants to compare energy usage at the two properties.

“This is a good thing for West Virginia,” summed up Sandra Hamlin, executive director of the Coalition.

Other EcoDwell supporters include the Charleston Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the West Virginia Housing Development Fund.