According to Felton, ClimateMaster has donated the heat pump units installed in all 300 geothermal homes constructed by the organization since 2006. In addition, system design, installation, testing and startup services have been provided at cost by Oklahoma City-based geothermal installing contractor Comfortworks, and by geothermal driller B&H Construction.

“The 300 geothermal homes constructed by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity provide a clear example that this type of system is accessible in the entry housing market, and that it can provide real and significant economic advantages to homeowners,” said ClimateMaster president Dan Ellis. “With these and other initiatives, Central Oklahoma has become a leader in making geothermal systems a standard HVAC solution for the home, and we anticipate this leadership to encourage even greater traction across the country.”

“There’s a great sense of pride in knowing that you’ve done something impactful like this, helping those in tough economic times be able to secure a safe, reliable and affordable place to live, and also be in a home that operates as efficiently as possible,” said Chris Ellis, president of Comfortworks. “Adding geothermal heating and cooling into the affordable housing model can provide the benefit of significant energy savings, which means more money in the homeowner’s pocket for household necessities like groceries and gas. Our work with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity really shows the economic value of this type of system, particularly in smaller entry-market homes.”

The 300 geothermal homes built to date, which range in size from 1,050 to 1,400 square feet, each feature a two-ton geothermal heat pump system from ClimateMaster that is fed by a single 400-foot deep borehole.

“Typically the borehole is drilled under the foundational slab, which makes for a very streamlined installation, eliminating the need for any headering and allowing for the pipe to feed directly into the mechanical closet inside the house,” Chris Ellis explained.

The 300th geothermal home, which is also the 722nd home overall to be built by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity since the organization was established, is owned by Victor and Alma Medrano, who will move in to the home with their two sons.

“Thanks to Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, we have a good and affordable roof over our heads, after years of economic struggle following some severe injuries that left me unable to work,” said Victor Medrano.

According to Cherri Robinson, who has lived since 2006 in one of the first 10 geothermal homes built by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, she has enjoyed the comfortable and virtually maintenance-free aspects of geothermal heating and cooling.

“I love my system,” said Robinson, “You can just move the temperature up or down one degree and notice the change.”

The majority of the geothermal homes built by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity are located in the organization’s Hope Crossing development, which is currently Habitat for Humanity International’s largest green home community in the United States. The five-phase project, which includes 217 homes, was completed at the end of 2009.

“The successes achieved by this collaboration can be seen on many levels, from the homeowners themselves, to the geothermal industry at-large,” said Dan Ellis. “We are proud to be part of the commitment made by Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity to construct 100 percent of its homes with geothermal heating and cooling over the past seven years, and we look forward to continuing this momentum well into the future.”

About Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry working in partnership with God and the community to build decent, affordable housing, and to provide hope for responsible, hard-working, limited-income families living in substandard conditions. To learn more, visit www.cohfh.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 3 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates for fair and just housing policies and provides training and access to resources to help more families improve their shelter conditions. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To get more information, to donate or to volunteer, visit habitat.org.

About ClimateMaster, Inc.
ClimateMaster, Inc. manufactures water-source and geothermal heat pumps, which are considered to be the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly type of air conditioningand heating products available on the market today.