Members of the Home Builders Association of Cherokee County get to work on the first phase of what soon will be the home of a lucky Gaffney resident, compliments of Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County. Habitat is a Christian nonprofit organization which works to make home ownership a reality for local residents by providing homes at low monthly payments. Homeowners spend 300 volunteer hours working to help build the structures. (Ledger photo / JOE L. HUGHES II) Keeping water nearby as they worked under the hot Cherokee County sun, local carpenters hammered away Friday at a project whose end result will make some lucky area resident’s dream of home ownership come true.

Making it an option for those who never believed it possible, the local Habitat for Humanity was the recipient of help from members of the Home Builders Association of Cherokee County (HBA), which used a work day to assist the nonprofit organization.

“We love organizations that pay their dues, give back to the community,” said Home Builders Association Executive Director Dick Lavender. “Money is tight for everyone right now, but we want to do our part to keep the circle of giving moving right along.”

It is the first time Habitat and the county HBA have come together in a combined effort to construct a home. One of the Habitat’s biggest supporters, Cherokee Technology Center construction teacher and HBA member Johnny Breitenbach, hatched the idea when he and fellow homebuilders were searching for volunteer projects.

“When we learned of their idea to donate a work day we were ecstatic,” said Larry Vincent of Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County. “Them being able to give a free day to do charity work is wonderful.”

Volunteers arrived just before the crack of dawn at 7:30 a.m. with tools in hand and an abundance of lumber in tow, preparing to complete the first phase of the home construction process.

“The work we will be doing (Friday) is getting the exterior walls and setting trestles,” Lavender said.

In addition, it is the second home to be built according to a blueprint created by Breitenbach in which the structure has a square design rather than the rectangular version common to most houses. The homes, which are 35 feet long and wide, will meet Energy Star ratings — meaning the home will be built to an international standard involving the use of energy-efficient consumer products and smaller residential heating and cooling units to reduce energy consumption.

The inspection will look at the home’s duct work, heating and cooling systems and overall construction practices to determine whether it meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements for an Energy Star rating. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as houses, save energy consumption of between 20 and 30 percent.

“The pie lots lent itself to the Breitenbach’s new design,” Vincent said. “We’re looking forward to seeing (the houses) completed and how those living in the home react to it.”

Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County was recently selected to participate in a national green building initiative of The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International, a program named “Partners in Sustainable Building.” Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County along with 122 other affiliates will be granted $3,000 for each home built to Energy Star standards.

Habitat is a Christian nonprofit organization which works to make home ownership a reality for local residents by providing homes at low monthly payments. Homeowners spend 300 volunteer hours working to help build the homes.

The effort was also supported by the likes of Milliken, Limestone Presbyterian Church, New Harvest Church of God, UPS Freight and a number of private donors.

Only the two structures currently under construction are left of the nine that Habitat for Humanity was required to finish according to an infrastructure grant aiding in the development of Hope Acres, a subdivision consisting of homes built by the organization. Approximately 19 more homes will be built in coming years as the subdivision extends to Providence Road, Vincent said.