Ground has been broken for construction of the Habitat For Humanity home in Southfield, Mich, co-sponsored by PM Engineering. About 100 people turned out for the ceremony, including Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), future Habitat home owner Mary Deaton and her family, and numerous other Habitat supporters.

The 1,058-square-foot home, targeted for completion at year-end, will have a radiant heating system, metal framing and an exterior insulating finishing system (EIFS). It's hoped that the use of these materials and other energy-efficient design elements will qualify the home for Habitat's "Green Team" designation. Ironically, this resource-efficient home will fall within the congressional district of Rep. Knollenberg, best known to PME readers as the sponsor of the bill to repeal water conservation measures for low-flow showerheads and 1.6-gpf toilets.

Response from manufacturers within the plumbing and heating industry has been outstanding, according to PME division publisher Tim Fausch. "I've received more than 15 offers from manufacturers to donate products, some of them quite substantial. Our industry has really stepped up and demonstrated a giving spirit."