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Engineering Firm Helps Habitat Home Centers Work Toward “Greener” Future

One of Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio’s Home Centers is soon to become more energy efficient, thanks to Brandt Engineering of San Antonio.

The company that designs, fits, services and retrofits energy-efficient building systems will spend   Sunday, June 14, replacing the lighting on approximately 50,000 square feet of sales floor in the organization’s Home Center on Probandt Street, said Don Griffith, HFHSA Vice President of Sales and Facilities.

Griffith explained that Brandt will replace approximately 80 400-watt metal halide fixtures with modern, energy efficient fixtures.

“Brandt’s generous donation of time, material and labor will support Habitat’s efforts to make all our three Home Centers in San Antonio greener and reduce overall utility consumption,” he said.

In fact, the fixtures could reduce the energy consumption by up to 50-60 percent, said Steve Lopez, who does electrical sales for Brandt Engineering.

“Since we are not able to give by building the residential part … we’d like to give back any way we can,” Lopez said. “We like to give back to an organization that does so much.”

Also helping with the effort is United Rentals of San Antonio, who is donating use of the equipment to facilitate the work. 

HFHSA is an ecumenical Christian organization working in partnership with families in need to build simple, decent and affordable homes. The homes are in turn sold to the low-income families on an interest free, 20-year mortgage. The organization – which relies on donations and volunteer labor to build homes -- operates three Home Centers in San Antonio that sell both new and used home improvement materials to the public. All proceeds from sales in these stores benefit HFHSA’s general and administrative costs, so that all donations to the organization’s building program go to building more homes.