Habitat for Humanity constructing net zero home in Custer

Habitat for Humanity is constructing a net zero home in Custer that will be the first single-family home the nonprofit has built in three years in Whatcom County.

The nonprofit, acting as the contractor, recently broke ground on the one-story home at 3002 Creasey Road. The land is owned by a woman with a disability impacting her mobility who was gifted the land from her relative.

“The design was to match the expected accessibility needs,” construction director Chris Van Staalduinen said. “We’re all pretty excited to knock out a single-family home.”

The home will be the first that Habitat for Humanity has built in Whatcom County since 2022. Executive director John Moon said townhomes make the most sense for the nonprofit right now as 48,000 Whatcom County residents qualify for Habitat homes.

“Single family homes are so rare these days for us to be able to afford them,” Moon said. “If it wasn’t for the gift of the land, I’m not sure that this would have been affordable for the person coming into it.”

The home will be net zero, meaning the energy the home uses is equal to the amount of renewable energy it creates. To make the home net zero, the home is being constructed with a heat recovery ventilation system, which exchanges indoor air with outdoor air, and solar panels, among other energy efficient features.

Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County’s main focus for the past few years has been building townhomes in Bellingham and Everson. Its 50-80 unit Telegraph Townhomes project in Bellingham has built 12 units with four more in construction, and Mateo Meadows in Everson will have 30 townhomes and 16 affordable rental units with commercial space underneath.

The townhomes are also net zero so they can maintain their affordability, Moon said.

“We’re all feeling the sting of utility costs kind of going up,” Van Staalduinen said.

Habitat for Humanity has about 100 homes currently in its pipeline.

The Custer home on Creasey Road needs volunteers, Moon said. Volunteers can sign up at hfhwhatcom.org/volunteer. The home is expected to be complete by the end of June.

“If you don’t have a safe, decent place to lay your head at night you can’t be successful,” Moon said. “The whole idea behind Habitat is ending intergenerational poverty, and the house is actually the biggest tool in our toolbox to do that.”