Habitat Homes 'Go Green' with Help from Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative - Forty green homes to be built in historic Frazier Courtyard Homes neighborhood

(DALLAS, Texas) – Please join Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and representatives from The Sue Pope Fund, the City of Dallas and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Saturday, October 25, 10:00 a.m., at 4706 Joseph Wiley, as we celebrate an innovative partnership with the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI) in the historic Frazier Courtyard Homes neighborhood. 

Speakers will include City of Dallas Councilmember Linda Koop; Katy Hubener, Sue Pope Fund; Carl E. Edlund, Director of Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Scott Begin, CEO, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

“As an affordable home builder, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is excited to offer ‘green building’ features to our homeowners through this partnership with the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative.  We believe that green practices should be available to all homeowners, and are extremely proud to participate in this important initiative that will provide energy and cost savings to our hard-working families,” remarked Scott Begin, CEO, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

The partnership with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is one of seven projects targeted by DSSI, and will evaluate the impact of 14 energy-efficient upgrades in 40 homes being constructed in the Frazier Courtyard Homes neighborhood as part of its “affordable green homes” project. These homes will be among the first Habitat homes in the country to be built to 'LEED Silver' standards. DSSI is funding these improvements and with Dallas Habitat, will follow-up to gage energy savings, cost-effectiveness of the upgrades, and conduct surveys of how the new residents value these features. 

The lessons learned will not stop with these 40 homes.  The ultimate purpose of this project is to expand the number of affordable, green homes throughout the Dallas area.   DSSI intends the data acquired from the Frazier Courtyard Homes project to be closely shared with other builders so that they can more successfully design affordable, green homes and expand that market in the Dallas area.

The Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI) is a public-private partnership led by the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   Its purpose is to encourage and promote environmentally sustainable practices and speedy pollution reductions in the day-to-day business practices of private and public sector partners – the core of DSSI.  By making proactive choices to reduce air pollution, DSSI partners are participating in voluntary programs that are helping to improve Dallas’ air quality. DSSI has a three-year lifespan, from June 2007 to June 2010.  To date, 20 partners have joined DSSI and pledged to complete environmental improvement efforts in seven projects, helping to establish sustainability as the new standard for doing business in Dallas. 

About Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI)
As a constantly growing area, a city the size of Dallas faces many environment-related challenges. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to improve the environmental quality of life of its residents and visitors, the City of Dallas has embarked on a new partnership with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the U.S. EPA in the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative. Dallas is the first city in the nation to be chosen to participate in this pilot program created by the EPA.

The Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative is a joint effort whose primary goal will be to adopt sustainable practices to help improve Dallas’ air quality. Often times, these same efforts can also have additional positive environmental impacts. Subsequently, water and land quality benefits are also to be expected.  Visit www.sustainableskylines.org for more information.

About The Sue Pope Fund
The Sue Pope Fund – The North Texas Pollution Reduction Programis a grant making organization dedicated to reducing ozone emissions in North Texas. Funding for the organization followed after a year of negotiations and a settlement agreement between one of the region's largest industrial sources (Holcim US Inc.) and two local clean air organizations (Blue Skies Alliance and Downwinders At Risk). Under the terms of the agreement, the two organizations dropped their fight over Holcim’s permit application to increase production and emissions at their Midlothian plant in return for Holcim’s commitment to undertake a list of projects to reduce emissions and monitor air quality. Among other commitments, Holcim agreed to allocate $2.25 million in funds to be disbursed for clean air projects in North Texas. The Sue Pope North Texas Pollution Reduction Program is the organization established to review clean air projects and disburse funds. For more information, visit www.SuePopeFund.org.

About Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity (DAHfH) is a Christian ministry that builds quality, affordable homes in partnership with deserving families. Habitat’s homeownership program is an innovative model that offers low-income families the opportunity to own a home with affordable 0% interest loans. Homes are financed by generous donations from community supporters and largely built by the partner Habitat family with thousands of dedicated volunteers each year. Each homeowner commits 400 hours of “sweat equity” to the construct of their home. As the largest nonprofit homebuilder in the City of Dallas, Dallas Area Habitat has served over 700 low-income families with homeownership since 1986, investing $50 million in 20 neighborhoods of Dallas county to create new homes, new hope, and new communities.  For more information, visit www.dallas-habitat.org.

FRAZIER COURTYARD HOMES
Frazier Courtyard Homes is an exciting new residential sub-division in the Mill City community of Southeast Dallas on Spring Avenue.  When completed, the development will consist of 51 single-family homes, providing homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income families.  Located on 6.3 acres donated by Dallas Housing Authority, this $5.3 million development is a joint venture between The Fair Park Partnership* (two nonprofit housing organizations, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and South Dallas/Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation, known as ICDC), and Townhaven Homes, LLC.     

In 2004, at ICDC’s invitation, the Fair Park Partnership was established between ICDC and Dallas Habit forming a collaborative effort to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income families in Fair Park neighborhoods, including the Mill City area. 

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Speakers will include City of Dallas Councilmember Linda Koop; Katy Hubener, Sue Pope Fund; Carl E. Edlund, Director of Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and Scott Begin, CEO, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

“As an affordable home builder, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is excited to offer ‘green building’ features to our homeowners through this partnership with the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative.  We believe that green practices should be available to all homeowners, and are extremely proud to participate in this important initiative that will provide energy and cost savings to our hard-working families,” remarked Scott Begin, CEO, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

The partnership with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is one of seven projects targeted by DSSI, and will evaluate the impact of 14 energy-efficient upgrades in 40 homes being constructed in the Frazier Courtyard Homes neighborhood as part of its “affordable green homes” project. These homes will be among the first Habitat homes in the country to be built to 'LEED Silver' standards. DSSI is funding these improvements and with Dallas Habitat, will follow-up to gage energy savings, cost-effectiveness of the upgrades, and conduct surveys of how the new residents value these features. 

The lessons learned will not stop with these 40 homes.  The ultimate purpose of this project is to expand the number of affordable, green homes throughout the Dallas area.   DSSI intends the data acquired from the Frazier Courtyard Homes project to be closely shared with other builders so that they can more successfully design affordable, green homes and expand that market in the Dallas area.

The Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI) is a public-private partnership led by the City of Dallas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   Its purpose is to encourage and promote environmentally sustainable practices and speedy pollution reductions in the day-to-day business practices of private and public sector partners – the core of DSSI.  By making proactive choices to reduce air pollution, DSSI partners are participating in voluntary programs that are helping to improve Dallas’ air quality. DSSI has a three-year lifespan, from June 2007 to June 2010.  To date, 20 partners have joined DSSI and pledged to complete environmental improvement efforts in seven projects, helping to establish sustainability as the new standard for doing business in Dallas. 

About Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative (DSSI)
As a constantly growing area, a city the size of Dallas faces many environment-related challenges. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to improve the environmental quality of life of its residents and visitors, the City of Dallas has embarked on a new partnership with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the U.S. EPA in the Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative. Dallas is the first city in the nation to be chosen to participate in this pilot program created by the EPA.

The Dallas Sustainable Skylines Initiative is a joint effort whose primary goal will be to adopt sustainable practices to help improve Dallas’ air quality. Often times, these same efforts can also have additional positive environmental impacts. Subsequently, water and land quality benefits are also to be expected.  Visit www.sustainableskylines.org for more information.

About The Sue Pope Fund
The Sue Pope Fund – The North Texas Pollution Reduction Programis a grant making organization dedicated to reducing ozone emissions in North Texas. Funding for the organization followed after a year of negotiations and a settlement agreement between one of the region's largest industrial sources (Holcim US Inc.) and two local clean air organizations (Blue Skies Alliance and Downwinders At Risk). Under the terms of the agreement, the two organizations dropped their fight over Holcim’s permit application to increase production and emissions at their Midlothian plant in return for Holcim’s commitment to undertake a list of projects to reduce emissions and monitor air quality. Among other commitments, Holcim agreed to allocate $2.25 million in funds to be disbursed for clean air projects in North Texas. The Sue Pope North Texas Pollution Reduction Program is the organization established to review clean air projects and disburse funds. For more information, visit www.SuePopeFund.org.

About Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity (DAHfH) is a Christian ministry that builds quality, affordable homes in partnership with deserving families. Habitat’s homeownership program is an innovative model that offers low-income families the opportunity to own a home with affordable 0% interest loans. Homes are financed by generous donations from community supporters and largely built by the partner Habitat family with thousands of dedicated volunteers each year. Each homeowner commits 400 hours of “sweat equity” to the construct of their home. As the largest nonprofit homebuilder in the City of Dallas, Dallas Area Habitat has served over 700 low-income families with homeownership since 1986, investing $50 million in 20 neighborhoods of Dallas county to create new homes, new hope, and new communities.  For more information, visit www.dallas-habitat.org.

FRAZIER COURTYARD HOMES
Frazier Courtyard Homes is an exciting new residential sub-division in the Mill City community of Southeast Dallas on Spring Avenue.  When completed, the development will consist of 51 single-family homes, providing homeownership opportunities for low and moderate income families.  Located on 6.3 acres donated by Dallas Housing Authority, this $5.3 million development is a joint venture between The Fair Park Partnership* (two nonprofit housing organizations, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and South Dallas/Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation, known as ICDC), and Townhaven Homes, LLC.     

In 2004, at ICDC’s invitation, the Fair Park Partnership was established between ICDC and Dallas Habit forming a collaborative effort to provide homeownership opportunities to low-income families in Fair Park neighborhoods, including the Mill City area. 

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THE SUE POPE FUND
NORTH TEXAS POLLUTION REDUCTION PROGRAM
PO Box 763844
Dallas, TX 75376
Office 972.296.9400 - Fax 972.296.9492 - Email