STATE COLLEGE — The State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT) announces community open houses for GreenBuild. The open houses will be held at the GreenBuild site located at 1394 and 1396 University Drive, State College, Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20 from 1-3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

A nonprofit and longtime leader in affordable housing, the State College Community Land Trust began construction last fall of two affordable houses equipped with advanced energy efficiency technologies. Monthly energy costs are projected to be no more than $15 per month. The homes will be completed in early May with a certificate of occupancy anticipated in June 2018. GreenBuild will benefit not only individuals who own the homes through lower operating and maintenance costs, but it also will serve as a model for builders, developers, architects and individual homeowners seeking new ways to reduce energy costs.

Susan Venegoni, SCCLT Board President, noted, “The concept of moderately priced, energy-efficient homes has become a reality with GreenBuild. The success of GreenBuild was possible due to the dedication of our partners and collaborators, and is a testament to the value of working together to address community needs. This has been a project several years in the making starting with brainstorming with the Penn State faculty and students.The community has been very responsive to our campaign to make this project a reality. Now, we’re excited to see the design become reality and ready for new homeowners who want to live in the Borough of State College. Let’s not stop here.”

An invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned May 18, 3 p.m. Invited guests include individual donors to the project and SCCLT partners: The Borough of State College and West Penn Power Sustainability Energy Fund; organizational supporters: Centre County Commissioners and S&T Bank; and design/build contributors: Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, Hamer Center for Community Design/Energy Efficient Housing Research Group, Envinity, Inc., Henry Architecture and Design, and Weber Murphy Fox, Inc.

For more information, contact SCCLT at 814-867-0656 or anna@scclandtrust.org. Learn more at scclandtrust.org/greenbuild or find us on Facebook and Twitter (@SCCommLandTrust)

tate College Community Land Trust was founded in 1996, and has been “building community through homeownership,” providing first-time home buyers with affordable housing opportunities in the Borough of State College. In the past 22 years the SCCLT has purchased 40 houses, rehabilitating them for sale to individuals, couples, and families. The nonprofit organization has assisted over 60 households in obtaining the dream of homeownership with an innovative land-lease program. The SCCLT is a 501(c)3 organization.