Today, the East Tennessee Housing Development Corporation (ETHDC) and officials from the City of Knoxville, Suntrust Bank, the East Tennessee Foundation and Lonsdale residents joined together for the opening of 3411 Bishop Street - the first EarthCraft-certified home in Knoxville. The 1,176-square-foot, three-bedroom home is an outstanding example of resource efficiency, consuming 15 percent less energy than a standard home. A truly collaborative effort, 3411 Bishop Street was financed by the City of Knoxville, the East Tennessee Foundation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Clayton Bank, Suntrust Bank and The ETHDC.

"EarthCraft-certified projects meet high standards of comfort and durability, conserve energy and water, and generate substantial utility savings," said Tyler Jones, EarthCraft Program Manager. "We congratulate The East Tennessee Housing Development Corporation on 3411 Bishop Street's EarthCraft certification, and we applaud its dedication to innovative, sustainable building practices."

The EarthCraft House program is designed to certify new single-family detached homes, townhomes and duplexes. Projects must adhere to high standards of indoor air quality, energy efficiency and water conservation, and they must pass a number of tests that measure the building's ability to hold heated and conditioned air. EarthCraft homes must also meet ENERGY STAR standards, which require an energy savings of at least 15 percent above code-built homes. Projects are certified through third-party inspections and design reviews.

"The ETHDC board and staff are proud of this first Earth Craft home. In this tough economic climate coupled with rising utility cost and a slow housing market, this green built home will offer tremendous savings to the low-to-moderate income family that purchases it" said Frank Sparkman, Board Chairman.

About ETHDC

ETHDC is a non-profit housing organization designated as a CHDO by the City of Knoxville ETHDC mission is to offer innovative housing alternatives for low-to-moderate income communities and families ETHDC plans to build 3 more new homes on Bishop Street in 2011

About the EarthCraft Green Building Program

EarthCraft is a voluntary green building certification program originally created in 1999 by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface. By addressing the climate conditions unique to the Southeast, it serves as a blueprint for energy, water and resource-efficient single-family homes, multifamily structures, renovation projects, community developments and light-commercial buildings. To date, more than 10,000 EarthCraft projects have been certified in six states across the Southeast.

For more information about ETHDC or the purchase of 3411 Bishop Street please call 525-9945. For more information about the EarthCraft program, please visit www.earthcraft.org.