Transform Chattanooga

A family seeking shelter from the ravages of violence in the Sudan, are now the proud owners of Chattanooga’s first LEED Certified Habitat for Humanity Houses – one of the first in Tennessee.

When violence broke out in the Sudan, Baja Dalla and his family tried to flee, but by the time he reached an Ethiopian refugee camp, all of his family except his father had been killed or had died because of illness or hunger. His father soon died as well, and he was alone at age 7. Baja struggled to attend school and to find work. As the years passed and he grew up

, he met Nyanchi, and sought her hand in marriage, but was rebuffed because he could not pay the traditional dowry! Baja applied for resettlement to the United States, and was eventually married. By the time the couple was relocated to the U.S. they had two children. Bridge Refugee Services in Chattanooga helped them apply to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga for a home.

A group of Chattanooga businesses and green building leaders rallied around the project to build a home for the family that would be simple, decent, affordable, AND use cutting-edge green construction methods. green|spaces, a local green building organization, Architect Thomas Palmer and Collier Construction provided design and technical advice and helped manage the design so when completed it could be certified through the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

“Baja and Nyanchi came to America with the hope of having a home, in a way that is new for them,” says Jeff Cannon of green|spaces. “Their commitment to carve out a new life in our country is a reminder that it is no small thing to own property, to have a piece of land with a house on it. And to care for that home so it will shelter you and your children. Baja’s hard work on the project was inspiring to us all, and we were pleased to help build his house with materials that are healthier for his kids, that use less energy, and that have less impact on his land.”

“LEED certifiable design includes material efficient framing, use of sustainable resources, proximity to basic community resources, permanent erosion control, high efficiency fixtures and fittings for indoor water use, and the use of Energy Star Appliances and more,” says Aaron Collier with Collier Construction. “The home also includes an insulated crawl space and attic, sealed air barrier and a rain screen siding system. These sustainable building practices contribute to significantly lower energy costs, reduced water use and healthy indoor air.”

Funds. materials or services for the project were provided by Collier Construction, Donald R. Payne Company , Eastman Construction, EMJ Corporation, Church of the Good Shepherd, green|spaces, Koch’s Foods, Lyndhurst Foundation, Luken Holdings, North Shore Fellowship, Palmer Built Environments, Robert L. and Kathrina H. Maclellan Foundation, Signal Wind, The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, The Osborne Fund and The Strauss Company.

Construction of the home began in early December 2008 in conjunction with MainX24 and the InHabitat Party sponsored by Coptix, a local design firm. The shell of the home was complete at the corner of East Main Street and Market during these events then moved to its permanent location in the Jefferson Heights Neighborhood. Construction of the home was recently completed. Along the way, local filmmakers Dave Profiri and Linda Duvoisin filmed the project and have created a short film telling Baja’s story which premiered at the recent Eco Expo in Chattanooga.

“It has been a privilege to see Chattanooga come together to bless a family who have been through things that are beyond our imaginations,” says Pete Palmer, president of the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga. “Learning about LEED building practices during this project has enhanced our knowledge, and gives us information we can use to build more energy efficient homes in the future.”

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