The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region has been awarded a 2016 Housing Innovation Award in the Affordable Homes category. Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region’s Depot Neighborhood, located off Eighth Street near Woodmere, is considered an exceptional example of the movement towards Zero Energy Ready Homes. The homes incur small to non-existent utility bills, which allow families to focus their income on other areas. 

“We are extremely honored to receive this recognition," says Wendy Irvin, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region. "We feel it’s not only an acknowledgment of the way that we seek to innovate and build homes that are environmentally responsible, but that it’s also a testament to how much we care about our Habitat families. We want them to live in beautiful homes that also help their family to succeed in every way possible."

“Housing Innovation Award winners such as Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region are leading a major housing industry transformation to zero energy ready homes," says Sam Rashkin, Chief Architect at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office. "This level of performance is the home of the future, because it improves the way Americans live by substantially reducing or eliminating utility bills, ensuring engineered comfort beyond traditional homes, protecting health with a comprehensive package of indoor air quality measures, and helping maximize the largest investment of a lifetime."

One other Michigan community, Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity, was among the nine winners listed. Grand Winners in each category will be announced at the 2016 Housing Innovation Awards Ceremony on September 27 at the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference in Dallas.