Doors Open To Eco-Friendly Homes

City Council Votes Wednesday On 13 More Of Them

Amid volatile energy prices and dire predictions about the worldwide impact of climate change, efforts to make residential homes more eco-friendly have blossomed in recent years, but so far have been available almost exclusively to the wealthy.

That soon may change.

The city of Houston has initiated a program to subsidize solar-powered, hyper-energy-efficient homes for low-income residents, among the first of its kind nationwide. So far, 10 homes have been built in northeast Houston, and City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on 13 more, planned for the Third Ward.

"This city and state and nation need this kind of construction for middle-class homeowners if we’re going to reduce energy bills and reduce emissions," said Houston Mayor Bill White. "Politicians have talked for decades about the need for greater energy efficiency, more renewables and less dependency on imports and new power plants. We’ve shown that it’s possible."

Each home will cost around $135,000 and will be built with a $45,000 subsidy from the city, which will allow the builder to incorporate energy-efficiency innovations, such as solar panels, insulating the entire structure with foam that seals the indoors and water heaters that rely on outdoor temperatures to reduce energy requirements.

Low utility costs

A couple living in a prototype built in the 4300 block of Elysian has received no energy bill for the past three months, said developer Zack Burghli, who built that home and the 10 in northeast Houston and is slated to build the 13 being considered by council. Utility costs in the homes — including electricity, water, sewer and natural gas — are not likely to amount to higher than $50 a month for a 2,000-square-foot residence, depending on usage, Burghli said.

"Everybody has been talking about solar panels and going green and so forth in the past few years, but it has been restricted to the elite," Burghli said, noting that going "green" in some quarters equates to having a floor made with bamboo or a door made from recycled material in China. "It does not make any sense in the industry we’re in. If you want to make a difference, you have to be able to mass produce it."