Each year, Atmos Energy celebrates Earth Day alongside the 1,400 communities we serve. This story is part of a continuing series being published all week about the ways that our comprehensive environmental strategy is focused on reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and other environmental impacts from our operations, fleet, facilities, gas supply, and customer end-use. 

For three years, Atmos Energy has partnered with local Habitat for Humanity organizations to design and build zero net energy (ZNE) homes, and in the past several months we were proud to dedicate new ZNE homes in Columbia, Tenn., Lafayette, La., and Dublin, Va. These houses join our first ZNE home in Evans, Colo., dedicated in 2021, followed by one home each in Owensboro (Ky.), Jackson (Miss.), Dallas and Taylor (Texas), as well as three homes in Lubbock.  

ZNE homes, which are designed to produce as much energy as they consume at an affordable cost to the homeowner, achieve significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and more affordable energy bills through the use of high-efficiency Energy Star natural gas appliances, rooftop solar panels, and high-performance building materials. When another home in Eudora, Kan., is completed this year, we will have built and dedicated a total of 12 ZNE homes across our eight-state footprint. 

Planning for the 1,239 square-foot ZNE home in Columbia began in partnership with Habitat for Humanity on Feb. 2, 2022, and the team broke ground in April 2023. Atmos Energy then hosted two “Build Day” events on Aug. 16 and Aug. 29, when dozens of employees volunteered their time and talents to help construct the home. 

The completed four-bedroom, two-bathroom house was presented to De’Sheria McClain, her 15-year-old son, Jaiden, and 8-year-old daughter, Kamiyah, at a Nov. 6 dedication ceremony. De’Sheria works as a program case manager for South Central Tennessee Workforce Alliance, a nonprofit that specializes in re-entry, workforce development, and literacy. After renting apartments for the past eight years, she and her family are excited for this new chapter. “Owning a home will provide stability, a safe environment for my children, and a place to always come back to,” said McClain.  

Meanwhile, in Louisiana, discussions began with Lafayette Habitat for Humanity in January 2023 and the groundbreaking occurred on March 6. This was a new process for all involved because it was the first ZNE home in Louisiana, so Habitat for Humanity’s standard plans were modified to accommodate energy efficiency measures like the rooftop photovoltaic solar system and high-performance insulation and windows, among other features, that contribute to make the home self-sufficient and environmentally responsible. 

Nearly 50 Atmos Energy employees volunteered on three separate days throughout the construction phase, helping to build the 1,171 square-foot house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Despite inclement weather and supply chain challenges that conspired to cause a delay in the completion date, on Oct. 25 the home was presented to Eldora Jones, a single mother and grandmother and first-time homeowner. 

“The dedication ceremony was a very touching moment for all who attended,” said Public Affairs Manager Jena Roussel. “Seeing the smiles and happy tears shed by Eldora and her family made all the hard work on this project well worth any hurdles we had to overcome.” 

Most recently, our newest home was dedicated in Virginia just last week on April 17. This 1,245-square-foot house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and it represents the third ZNE home built in our Kentucky / Mid-States division. 

“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity to design and build these homes has been particularly gratifying because it demonstrates that zero net energy is achievable with natural gas – in real homes that are benefiting real homeowners,” said Manager of Public Affairs Christina Christiansen.  

To learn more about Atmos Energy’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build ZNE homes in cities around the country, please visit atmosenergy.com/ZNE.