Short answer

Designers and organizations seeking to promote sustainable building within cost-sensitive sectors must develop solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and easily understood by stakeholders.

Field: Commercial Production
Source: OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries) (2013)
Method: Mixed-methods (Survey and Scorecard Analysis)
Sample: 15 survey participants (out of 84 affiliates), 11 LEED scorecards (6 from Habitat for Humanity, 5 from a production builder)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Financial constraints and a lack of expertise are the primary obstacles preventing Habitat for Humanity affiliates from achieving LEED for Homes certification. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2013 study published in OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries). Using Mixed-methods (survey and scorecard analysis) with 15 survey participants (out of 84 affiliates), 11 LEED scorecards (6 from Habitat for Humanity, 5 from a production builder), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and organizations seeking to promote sustainable building within cost-sensitive sectors must develop solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and easily understood by stakeholders.

Study

Commercial ProductionHigh ImpactModerate effect

Cost and knowledge gaps hinder Habitat for Humanity's adoption of LEED certification

Financial constraints and a lack of expertise are the primary obstacles preventing Habitat for Humanity affiliates from achieving LEED for Homes certification.

OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries) · 2013

Key Findings

01Cost and knowledge are the largest barriers to LEED certification for Habitat for Humanity affiliates.
02Water Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality are the weakest LEED categories for Habitat for Humanity homes.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing for organizations with limited budgets or technical expertise, prioritize solutions that minimize upfront costs and offer clear, actionable guidance.

Project actions

01When researching barriers, consider both financial and educational aspects.
02When analyzing performance data, look for patterns in specific categories or areas of a product/system.

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify the barriers and current practices related to LEED for Homes certification among Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Texas.

MethodMixed-methods (Survey and Scorecard Analysis)

ProcedureA survey was administered to Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Texas to understand their current sustainable building practices and perceived barriers to LEED certification. Additionally, LEED scorecards from Habitat for Humanity homes and a production home builder were analyzed to compare performance in different LEED categories.

Sample15 survey participants (out of 84 affiliates), 11 LEED scorecards (6 from Habitat for Humanity, 5 from a production builder)

ContextAffordable housing construction, sustainable building certifications

Variables

IV["Perceived cost of LEED certification","Perceived knowledge/expertise regarding LEED certification"]

DV["Participation in LEED for Homes certification","LEED scorecard points in specific categories (Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality)"]

CV["Affiliate location (Texas)","Type of organization (Habitat for Humanity vs. Production Builder)","Home building practices"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a specific and important niche within affordable housing and sustainability.
+Uses a mixed-methods approach to gather both qualitative and quantitative data.

Limitations

The findings might not apply to all Habitat for Humanity affiliates nationwide due to regional differences in costs and building practices. The comparison builder may have unique advantages or disadvantages.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of survey responses depends on participant honesty and understanding. Validity is supported by the triangulation of survey data with scorecard analysis, though the small sample size may limit generalizability.

Think critically

To what extent can the identified barriers of cost and knowledge be overcome through innovative design or business models, rather than just increased funding or training?

Design Principles

"Sustainable design solutions must be accessible and adaptable to the financial and knowledge capacities of their intended users."

Understanding these barriers is crucial for organizations aiming to promote sustainable building practices within non-profit housing sectors. Addressing these issues can lead to more environmentally responsible and resource-efficient affordable housing solutions.

What This Means for Your Design

Habitat for Humanity wants to build green homes, but it's too expensive and they don't know how to get the LEED certification. Their homes also aren't doing great on saving water or having good air quality.

How to use in your project

1.Use this study to justify the need for affordable and accessible sustainable design solutions in your own design project.
2.Reference the identified barriers (cost, knowledge) when discussing challenges in implementing your design.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research indicates that significant barriers to adopting sustainable building certifications like LEED for Homes within organizations like Habitat for Humanity stem from financial constraints and a lack of specialized knowledge. Addressing these issues through targeted financial support and accessible educational resources is crucial for promoting wider adoption of environmentally responsible construction practices.

Source

OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries)

A Study to Increase Participation of Habitat for Humanity Affiliates in LEED for Homes Certification

journal · 2013

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about cost and knowledge gaps hinder habitat for humanity's adoption of leed certification?: Designers and organizations seeking to promote sustainable building within cost-sensitive sectors must develop solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and easily understood by stakeholders. Evidence: OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries) (2013).
Why does "Cost and knowledge gaps hinder Habitat for Humanity's adoption of LEED certification" matter for design?: Understanding these barriers is crucial for organizations aiming to promote sustainable building practices within non-profit housing sectors. Addressing these issues can lead to more environmentally responsible and resource-efficient affordable housing solutions.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and organizations seeking to promote sustainable building within cost-sensitive sectors must develop solutions that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and easily understood by stakeholders.
What were the main findings?: Cost and knowledge are the largest barriers to LEED certification for Habitat for Humanity affiliates.. Water Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality are the weakest LEED categories for Habitat for Humanity homes.
What research method was used?: Mixed-methods (Survey and Scorecard Analysis) with 15 survey participants (out of 84 affiliates), 11 LEED scorecards (6 from Habitat for Humanity, 5 from a production builder).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2013 journal from OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries).
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing for organizations with limited budgets or technical expertise, prioritize solutions that minimize upfront costs and offer clear, actionable guidance.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on Texas affiliates, and the sample size for scorecards was relatively small. The comparison group was a single production builder, which may not represent all production builders.