Lafarge Kicks Off NetZero Energy Precast Concrete Home in Support of Habitat for Humanity on National Precast Day

EDMONTON, Alberta, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Lafarge North America kicked off an innovative NetZero energy home (duplex) project by giving a private media tour at the Lafarge Precast Concrete Plant. The project is in partnership with Stantec and will showcase their support of Habitat for Humanity (HFH). The duplex's innovative and integrative design, coupled with sustainable materials, will help create the ultimate energy-efficient precast concrete home. The project is a first-of-its-kind in Canada and will provide a "hand up" to two hard-working HFH partner families. Construction on the new duplex will begin in the fall of 2011.

"Lafarge is proud to support Habitat for Humanity in this exciting pilot project that will show how precast concrete can be used to build highly energy efficient homes while helping members of our community at the same time. We are pleased to be involved in a solution which delivers on environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainability. National Precast Day is an opportunity for Lafarge to educate hundreds of engineers, architects and students about sustainable construction and is the ideal occasion to feature a NetZero energy home," said Rene Thibault, Western Canada Aggregates & Concrete Regional President, Lafarge North America.

"As a longtime supporter of Habitat, Stantec is proud to have provided the architectural design and sustainability consulting for this innovative project that offers exemplary environmental performance," said Keith Shillington, Vice President, Stantec, Edmonton Region. "This results in lower monthly utility costs that make this home attainable for more hard working families in Edmonton, while the lessons learned here can be replicated worldwide."

Lafarge, Stantec and HFH are excited to pioneer a solution that will meet the housing needs today and to help create communities for the future. This project will be the stepping stone for venturing into creating more sustainable residential solutions with precast concrete.

"Habitat for Humanity is partnering with innovative companies and organizations to find sustainable solutions for affordable home ownership," said Susan Green, Chair, HFHE. "We are very grateful to Lafarge and Stantec for selecting Habitat as the beneficiary of this pioneering initiative."

The Habitat families pay an interest-free mortgage that is amortized to 25 percent of their income – the reason why Habitat homes are affordable. The families' mortgage payments are then reinvested into building more Habitat homes. This is what makes the Habitat program sustainable. Families also contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" on Habitat build sites as their downpayment for the home.

About HFHE

Founded in 1991, Habitat for Humanity Edmonton is a non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Our mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. With the help of thousands of volunteers, we have provided many families with safe, decent and affordable housing across northern Alberta. For more information about HFHE, please visit www.hfh.org.

About Lafarge

Lafarge S.A., together with its subsidiaries (the "Lafarge Group" or the "Group"), is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in all of its businesses: Cement, Aggregates & Concrete and Gypsum. With 76,000 employees in 78 countries, the Group posted sales of 16.2 billion Euros in 2010. Lafarge North America Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Lafarge Canada Inc., ("Lafarge"), are Lafarge Group companies, and together constitute the largest diversified supplier of construction materials in the United States and Canada.

The Lafarge Group entered the global "Dow Jones Sustainability Index" in 2010 in recognition of its sustainable development actions. The Group places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity.

About Stantec

Stantec provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects. We support public and private sector clients in a diverse range of markets at every stage, from the initial conceptualization and financial feasibility study to project completion and beyond. Our services are provided on projects around the world through approximately 11,000 employees operating out of more than 170 locations in North America and four locations internationally.

SOURCE Lafarge North America Inc.