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 Habitat for Humanity stands out as
one of the most successful not-for-profit organizations in
recent memory. Founded in
Georgia in 1976, Habitat has mushroomed across 83 countries
and has
built an outstanding number of homes – over 120,000 – for
low-income families around the world.
 With the help of volunteer labour, Habitat
for Humanity builds and rehabilitates modest, functional
homes. The houses are
sold to qualifying partner families at no profit and financed
through affordable mortgages. Mortgage payments are then pooled
into a revolving fund, which is used to build additional homes.
It’s an innovative, grassroots model that has brought
the pride of home ownership to thousands.
 Habitat takes a keen interest in the long-term financial and
healthy well-being of homeowner families. Consequently, energy
efficiency and establishing a safe and healthy living environment
is a priority for the organization. At the same time, Habitat
must consider speed and ease of construction when choosing
between building methods and materials: speed because houses
typically go up in a matter of days, and ease of construction
because much of the volunteer labour force is inexperienced
in building trades.
It’s not surprising that Structural
Insulated Panels are the preferred wall system for many Habitat
for Humanity
affiliates.
 Thermapan Structural Insulated Panels
has been involved for years with Habitat for Humanity affiliates
from Winnipeg to
New York City. The company supplies several local chapters
with SIPs, at cost or on a donated basis. To date, an estimated
40 Habitat homes have been built using Thermapan’s wall
system.
“We first began working with SIPs in 1999,” explains
Neil Hetherington, Executive Director for Toronto Habitat for
Humanity. “We’ve had nothing but positive feedback
from our volunteers and homeowners, and as a result, we now
build exclusively with SIPs.
Volunteer-Approved
 Habitat volunteers
favour Thermapan SIPs because of the ease and speed of construction.
Given the ambitious pace involved
in a typical build, the quicker that walls can go up, the
sooner other exterior and interior tasks can begin. Conventional “stick-and-batt” framing,
using studs and fiberglass insulation, is much more labour
intensive and time-consuming in comparison. The proof is
in the pudding. The installation of SIPs on a typical Habitat
bungalow can be completed in as little as four hours thanks
to the help of about a dozen volunteers.
 Habitat volunteers typically have very
little building experience, learning on the job from other
volunteers who were themselves
trained on a previous project. From build to build, SIPs have
proven that they have a much quicker learning curve than many
other construction skills. Thermapan’s leading-edge manufacturing
and quality assurance systems ensure consistency from panel
to panel, simplifying the construction process and promoting
better-built homes.
Family Well-Being
The merits of structural insulated panels during construction
are more than enough to explain why many Habitat affiliates
rely on SIP wall systems. But the post-construction benefits
are equally impressive.
 “Habitat homeowners benefit tremendously from SIP-built
houses,” says Jim Killoran of the Habitat for Humanity
of Westchester. The affiliate, near New York City, has put
up nearly a dozen homes with Thermapan SIPs, and now builds
exclusively with the system. “Our main activity may be
building affordable housing, but we care deeply about the well-being
of all our participant families in the long-run.”
Energy efficiency is one of the most
significant “quality-of-living” benefits.
Thermapan’s system can reduce energy costs by 30 to 35
percent, a significant savings for families with tight budgets.
Reduced heating costs make it easier for families to keep up
with mortgage payments. In addition, the solid nature of a
SIP wall system eliminates air circulation and moisture, preventing
the growth of mould, mildew, wood decay and allergens – key
factors proven to contribute to “Sick House Syndrome” in
traditionally framed buildings.
Building with SIPs is a win-win situation
for everybody involved with Habitat. “We are very proud of our partnership with
Habitat for Humanity,” says Emil Taraba, President of
Thermapan Structural Insulated Panels. “Indeed, we look
forward to many more years of working together, and most importantly,
to many more successful builds.”
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