photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity staff and volunteers along with Kathryn Gilmore and her son, Liam, cut the ribbon during the dedication ceremony on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

When Kathryn Gilmore received the news from Lawrence Habitat for Humanity that she would be getting a home, it was far from a blur. Amid tears of joy and sharing the news with friends and family, she felt, most of all, a tremendous weight lifted off her shoulders.

“Like, we’re going to have a home,” Gilmore said.

“When I got the final approval saying that you’re going to be getting one of these homes, I was calling everybody, calling my mom, my aunts, and my dad was with me at the time because we work together,” Gilmore told the Journal-World. “I was so excited I actually left work early to go and tell my son, and he was so excited and jumped up and down and gave me a hug.”

The new home in Eudora, which was unveiled on Thursday, is special for more than one reason — it’s the first zero-net-energy home created as part of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Atmos Energy. Gilmore and her son, Liam, are the 106th family to receive a home from Lawrence Habitat for Humanity.

Gilmore has been a tile setter on a construction team for about eight years, and she and her dad even did tile work on the new home. She said that while she has done lots of work on other people’s houses, this is the first time she has been able to enjoy her own work with her dad by her side.

The process of creating the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home took at least two years, and although Gilmore began working on the house in February, she was deeply inspired by the dedication of the Lawrence Habitat staff and volunteers. As she approaches her move-in date, Gilmore said she is excited about all that the future holds.

“I truly do feel blessed that I get to have this experience and get to go through the process and meet all of the amazing people that I have in the process of building this home,” Gilmore said. “I’m looking forward to helping out with the next house.”

During the dedication ceremony on Thursday, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Erika Zimmerman said her organization was honored and grateful to be a part of Gilmore’s story.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Kathryn Gilmore stands in front of her newly constructed zero net energy home built by Lawrence Habitat for Humanity on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

“She’s met every single challenge throughout the build process straight on and with a smile,” Zimmerman said at the dedication ceremony. “Kathryn has put in over 200 hours building her home and taking home ownership education classes. In a matter of weeks, she will sign a mortgage, and then she and Liam will move into the house.”

As a net-zero home, the house is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. The home was designed and constructed to meet rigorous green building standards. It features rooftop solar panels with a 7.8 kilowatt design, high-efficiency Energy Star natural gas appliances, premium insulation and windows and advanced weatherization elements, all contributing to increased energy efficiency.

“We always talk about natural gas being the most affordable energy source for a lot of Americans and we really wanted to showcase that, not only in these homes, but it certainly has a longer lasting impact,” said Atmos Energy Manager of Public Affairs Aaron Bishop. “We want to make sure that we’re good environmental stewards as well as being good stewards to the family that’s going to be moving into this home.”

This home integrates renewable energy with natural gas, using solar panels for electricity and natural gas for heating. While natural gas is a fossil fuel, Bishop said gas companies like Atmos are making an effort to reduce their methane emissions and enhance the efficiency of their systems.

“Our goal is to reduce our methane emissions on our natural gas distribution by 50% by the year 2035, and we’ve already accomplished about a 17% reduction,” Bishop said. “We’re making it happen.”

Zimmerman said that this project was exciting for both the staff and volunteers, showcasing the true potential of affordable energy and living in Douglas County.

“It really helped open our eyes and help us understand what it really means to build an energy efficient home,” Zimmerman said. “Now that we know those things, we can take that into every build going forward.”

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity and Atmos Energy held a dedication ceremony for their natural gas-powered zero net energy home on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

Overall, Zimmerman said that what truly inspired the partnership was their shared vision to provide an affordable home while proving that it is possible to succeed in achieving net-zero energy.

“To say that this house has been a journey would be an understatement,” Zimmerman said at the dedication ceremony. “We’ve had challenges and triumphs while building this house, but at the end of the day, Kathryn will get to realize her dream of becoming a homeowner, and Liam will get his forever home.”