Summit Sponsors LEED-Certified Habitat for Humanity Home

Summit Energy, a global energy management and sustainability services firm, announced today that it will aid Habitat for Humanity in building the 1st LEED-certified Habitat house in Kentucky. The company has pledged significant financial and volunteer support towards the project, which will officially begin at a groundbreaking ceremony on May 6th, 2010.

“Summit Energy is pleased to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission of bringing affordable housing to those in need. By building with energy efficiency in mind, a home truly becomes affordable for a lifetime,” says Steve Wilhite, CEO of Summit Energy. “The increased efficiency of this home will decrease operating costs, an important advantage for Habitat’s low-income clients.”

“We felt like this sponsorship was both good for the community and aligned with our company’s area of expertise. As a frontrunner in the energy sector, we see daily that paying attention to energy and sustainability pays dividends,” added Wilhite.

The United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED building rating system promotes the design and construction of high-performance green buildings. A Habitat home built to LEED standards will create a number of benefits, including:

• Lower Utility Costs – Green home features can dramatically lower energy bills by focusing on efficient appliances, insulation, and home design. According to the USGBC, LEED buildings, on average, use 40% less water and 30% less energy.
• Enhanced Health & Comfort – A U.S. EPA study found that airborne pollutants can be 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Green construction improves indoor air quality by ensuring proper ventilation, using low-VOC paints and adhesives, and controlling moisture.
• Conservation of Natural Resources – According to the USGBC, buildings consume 15 trillion gallons of water per year and account for 72% of U.S. electricity consumption. By owning and maintaining an energy-efficient house, homeowners help preserve limited natural resources.

About Summit Energy
Summit Energy leads companies to cost-effective strategies by providing energy procurement, sustainability consulting, risk management, rate analysis and demand reduction services. Headquartered in Louisville, KY with a team of more than 350 people, Summit has additional offices in the U.S. and Europe.