Materials Conservation

The conservation and efficient use of materials helps Habitat affiliates save money while conserving natural resources. Less waste and the reuse of recyclable materials results in lower costs for Habitat partner families.

Habitat's attention to resource efficiency starts with the house design. By promoting a building technique known as Optimized Value Engineering, Habitat encourages its affiliates to build houses using designs that use less lumber and reduces material waste.

Habitat affiliates build simple, modestly-sized houses which use less raw materials than large houses. Smaller houses are less expensive to build and easier to heat and cool.
Purchasing smaller quantities of materials, Habitat decreases the environmental impact of raw material extraction, processing and transportation and also reduces the amount of waste.

Promoting Reuse and Recycling
Habitat affiliates find many opportunities to reuse and recycle leftover materials. Affiliates are encouraged to designate an area on the work site for reusable and recyclable materials, making it easier for volunteers to channel them back into house construction or to materials recyclers.

In an effort to raise funds while conserving resources, many Habitat affiliates operate a ReStore. ReStores sell reusable and surplus building materials to the public, using the proceeds to fund local Habitat house construction. As a result, they both support resource efficiency and help Habitat build more houses.

By using and re-using materials efficiently, Habitat affiliates are encouraging good stewardship— of both Habitat's resources and the earth's resources.