Habitat for Humanity of York County
Habitat for Humanity of York County is exploring how Living Places principles can support affordable homeownership in the United States.
Working with VELUX, the organisation is applying Living Places principles to a pilot project in York County, South Carolina. The project focuses on healthy indoor environments, energy efficiency and long-term affordability, while responding to local housing needs.
The ambition is to demonstrate how high-quality housing can remain accessible to families while reducing energy consumption and supporting healthier living conditions.
Affordability Through Performance
For Habitat for Humanity of York County, affordability includes both the cost of building a home and the cost of living in it.
Energy use, indoor climate, daylight and durability all influence long-term housing costs. The project explores how these factors can be integrated into affordable housing using solutions that are already available today.
The goal is to create homes that are healthy, energy efficient and financially sustainable for homeowners over time.
Applying Living Places Principles
The York County development draws on the five Living Places principles: Healthy, Shared, Simple, Adaptive and Scalable.
These principles provide a framework for creating homes that support wellbeing, reduce environmental impact and remain practical to build.
The project applies these ideas within the context of American affordable housing, adapting them to local regulations, construction practices and community needs.
Learning Through Partnership
The partnership allows Habitat for Humanity of York County to draw on knowledge developed through Living Places projects in Europe and North America.
By sharing experience, data and practical solutions, the partnership helps accelerate the application of healthy housing principles in affordable housing projects.
The ambition is to create a model that can inform future developments and support wider adoption of healthy and energy-efficient housing.
“At Habitat for Humanity of York County, we believe everyone deserves a decent place to live, and that includes homes that are healthy, efficient and built for the future.”
A Scalable Approach
The York County project serves as a test case for how Living Places principles can be applied within affordable housing developments in the United States.
The homes are designed around health, comfort, energy efficiency and affordability. The lessons generated through the project will help inform future developments and demonstrate how these principles can be adapted to different communities and housing needs.
“Together, we will develop a model that prioritises affordability, energy efficiency and long-term livability, recognising that true affordability includes both construction and ongoing utility costs.”