Green Housing in Clewiston
The Empowerment Alliance started its efforts to build energy efficient homes with the first unit it constructed in Clewiston. The home is built of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) which are hollow styrofoam blocks. The blocks are stacked on top of each other and the center filled with concrete to create a structure that is well insulated due to the styrofoam and incredibly strong from the concrete running from floor to ceiling.
The first unit built in Clewiston (shown at right) offers a number of other energy efficient features such as Energy Star appliances and light fixtures, extra insulation, and impact resistant windows that enabled it to earn the Energy Star Tax Credit from EPA. The Empowerment Alliance included these energy features since electric bills in the community often run $300 to $500 per month. Due to the added features in this house, the monthly electric bill is under $100/month. The reduced costs help ensure the long-term affordability of the unit for the families who buy them.
