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Groundbreaking technology makes its way into Habitat for Humanity homes

A GEB project will be a first in Longmont, helping homeowners save on energy costs.
Monte Whaley
Monte Whaley
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Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

At least ten new Habitat for Humanity homes in Longmont will be wired with state-of-the-art technology to boost home energy efficiency and act as laboratories for future development projects in the city.

Tim Ellis, Longmont’s renewable strategy manager, told the city’s sustainability advisory board Wednesday that the Habitat for Humanity project supports Longmont’s goal to be dependent on 100% renewable energy by 2030.

“Our main focus is to support electrification and innovation,” Ellis told board members. “This (project) will go a long way to achieve that.”

The Habitat homes are being built in the Marshall Place and Mountain Brook areas of Longmont. They will be Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) and wired with interactive technologies that help monitor and manage electric appliances, Ellis said.

GEB homes will use next-generation sensors, controls, connectivity, and communication to help buildings become smarter about time and energy use, he said.

Consequently, they will help homeowners save on their energy bills, Ellis said.

“We will be able to minimize air leakages and the owner will have lower energy costs,” he said.

Longmont Power and Communication will provide rebates to Habitat, which will be passed to the homeowners in lower home costs, Ellis told the board.

Longmont Power and Communication will also monitor electric consumption of the whole home and appliances, and test water heaters to gauge efficiency.

GEB technology is not currently in use in Longmont’s electric grid, the city report said. Data from the Habitat homes will help guide the city in implementing the technology in the future.

The city will also partner with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden to better understand and develop other GEB projects, Ellis said.

The Habitat project not only fixes up a run-down part of town but also helps advance energy innovation in Longmont, said Polly Christensen, the city council’s representative on the advisory board.

“This does so many, many things and it’s a big improvement for Marshal Place,” Chrisentensen said.