Kentucky’s first Zero Net Energy (ZNE) house is in Owensboro, and it now belongs to first-time homeowner Jamie Sowders. The local Habitat for Humanity and Atmos Energy, among many other community organizations, partnered to build the ZNE house, which is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
A dedication ceremony was held Thursday, and Sowders could hardly express how grateful she was for the new three-bedroom home.
“I don’t have the words to describe how I truly feel,” she said. “I’m so happy and this home is very beautiful. I’ve been renting since I was 18 years old. This is gonna be a huge change for us.”
Sowders has four children. Her oldest daughter just graduated nursing school and will be getting her own place to live, so Sowders will reside in the home with the other three children.
When the Habitat chapter interviewed Sowders for the project, she said one of her main concerns was her ability to afford monthly utility bills.
The ZNE project incorporates building envelope efficiency, passive and active solar technology, and the latest in energy-efficient natural gas appliances and lighting to make the home self-sufficient.
Jeremy Stephens, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County, said the goal is for the utilities to be a savings that are passed on from month to month.
“We’ve seen a case analysis of this in other states across the country and it’s significant — 30% savings month to month,” he said. “To know that Jamie and her family are going to have that savings and be able to carry that forward throughout the year so that they can not only live but save and thrive is such a big deal for her, for us, for everyone involved.”
Like all program applicants, Sowders had to complete 350 sweat equity hours before she was eligible to move into a Habitat home.
“She is the perfect example of why the Habitat homeownership program works,” Stephens said. “There are people that were around from day one that could tell you that Jamie’s work ethic was unparalleled, that she could be found on the worksite almost every day while balancing a family as a single mother of four. She’s put hammer on nail on houses all around town.”
Sowders said she helped build houses from the ground up and learned valuable skills, but the program gave much more than that.
“Everyone that I’ve been around and worked with, they are my friends,” she said. “It’s not like they’re just Habitat for Humanity, I consider them my friends now.”
Sowders said there were plenty of challenges along the way, but the support from those involved helped push her along. She also said God played the most vital role.
“It’s not been easy. It’s been very hard, really. I have struggled getting my hours and working and taking care of my kids,” she said. “I’ve prayed for this for 2 years, for a change for my family. I want to thank God most and foremost for everything.”
During the dedication, special thanks were given to all those involved, as Stephens said this was “a really special moment in the history of” the local Habitat organization.
“This Zero Net Energy house is a great example of why Habitat for Humanity works,” Stephens said. “It took different organizations to come together to build this house. That’s what Habitat is — applicants, volunteers, sponsors, friends, family all coming together to serve others.”
Stephens gave special credit to Atmos Energy, saying the idea for the project started with them. Mark Martin, Vice President of Public Affairs at Atmos Energy, said he was glad Habitat was receptive to the idea and did not hesitate to make it happen.
“When it was determined we were going to build a ZNE home, we decided to partner with a worthy organization, and there was no better partner than Habitat for Humanity,” Martin said. “This project is so special on so many levels. While we were able to showcase the flexibility of natural gas, the real joy is providing an efficient home to a deserving family. Also, the support from the community has been incredible.”
Sponsors and partners on the ZNE build include Habitat for Humanity, Atmos Energy, Jagoe Homes, Boardwalk Pipelines, Drive Solar, Owensboro Municipal Utilities, Kizer Construction, Quantum Raters, Rinnai, Southern Star, A Ton of Service, Watkins Nursery, Steinkamp of Owensboro, Sun Windows, AO Smith, and WinnSupply of Owensboro.
