Habitat for Humanity of Summit & Wasatch Counties, in partnership with Utah Clean Energy, has already built homes that achieved the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home certification. Now, we are leveling up through an ambitious project: a 10-unit townhouse development designed to meet ENERGY STAR NextGen standards.
Affordable Homebuilding Means Energy-Efficient Homebuilding
Achieving ENERGY STAR NextGen certification is the future of affordable housing. Homes that achieve this standard are ultra-energy-efficient and all-electric, which translates to homes with improved comfort, better quality construction, superior indoor air quality, and lower electricity bills that improve affordability over the long-term. The development will also be solar-ready, reducing the cost to add solar in the future. By building on the experience gained from these projects, we aim to demonstrate that the same high standards can be achieved in multi-family construction across Utah, and to share those lessons broadly across the housing industry.
Project Goals
Create Affordable, Zero-Emission Housing
Demonstrate that affordability and sustainability can go hand in hand. Lessons learned from this multi-family project will help inform and educate builders, policymakers, and housing advocates across the region.
Long-Term Affordability
Lower utility bills significantly reduce the cost of homeownership, helping families stay housed over the long term.
Ownership and Community
Like other Habitat homes, these townhomes will be sold, not rented, to income-qualified families, thereby supporting stability, pride of ownership, and long-term investment in the community.
Project Details
- Development: 10-unit townhouse project in Silver Creek Village, Summit County.
- Standards: Built to ENERGY STAR NextGen requirements, ensuring ultra efficient, all-electric design. The project will also include solar-ready construction.
- Builders: Habitat’s experienced contractors and HERS Raters, applying proven single-family zero-emission strategies to multi-family construction.
- Status: Framing and mechanical systems are underway, including heat pumps and ducting. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
Learning and Impact
This development is not just about building homes; it is also about learning from them. By utilizing lessons learned from the construction process, and analyzing electricity data from the families who will live in these townhomes, project partners will gain valuable insights into the real-world costs and benefits of highly energy-efficient, all-electric housing.
Utah Clean Energy plays a key role by providing technical expertise and connecting Habitat with industry leaders, ensuring that best practices are applied and shared.
Support and Collaboration
The project is supported by grants from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and UCAIR, aligning closely with Utah’s affordable housing and air quality goals.
Looking Ahead
Habitat for Humanity’s Silver Creek Village townhouses are poised to redefine affordable housing in Utah-proving that energy-efficient, zero-emission homes are not only achievable, but practical, cost-effective, and beneficial for residents and the environment alike. This project stands as a powerful example of the future of sustainable, community-centered homebuilding.
We would like to clarify that Utah Clean Energy is not a solar company. We are a nonprofit organization that advocates for solar and other clean energy technologies, but we do not install or sell solar in any way.