Ground Broken On $5.5M Aurora Smart Community Of 17 New Homes

AURORA, IL — The first of 17 new homes that are being built as part of a new $5.5 million smart community in Aurora is scheduled to open late next year as long as the weather cooperates this winter after ground was broken on the project this week.

The Habitat Green Freedom subdivision of carbon-neutral and achieve net-zero homes are being built by Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, which has partnered with Nicor Gas and the Southern Company in the collaborative effort. The community will be open to first-time home buyers and the homes are designed to promote resiliency and affordability, officials with the three organizations said.

The project will demonstrate the benefits of a smart building envelope with dual-energy solutions to shine a spotlight on affordable, sustainable living, according to a news release issued after ground was broken on Tuesday.

“Nicor Gas has always been committed to giving back to our community, and this neighborhood is an extremely powerful symbol of that commitment,” Meena Beyers, vice president of Community and Business Development at Nicor Gas, said in a released statement. Through this project, we not only demonstrate the important role that we play in advancing Illinois’ clean energy goals, but we put on display how dual energy solutions can create affordable, sustainable solutions for customers.”

The 17 homes in the Aurora development will be part of Nicor Gas’ Smart Neighborhood, where each technology-enhanced home will be served with clean, safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service and supplemented by rooftop solar installations, high-efficiency building envelopes, and in-home battery energy storage.

These homes, officials said, have been designed to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions, which refers to the balancing of greenhouse gas emissions, where the home saves more carbon dioxide emissions than consumers produce to power, heat, and cool the home on an annual basis.

“Habitat for Humanity has led with the philosophy that home buying provides stability and resiliency to our first-time home buyers,” Jeffrey Barrett, CEO and executive director of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, said in a news release. “In partnering with Nicor Gas on these neighborhoods designed to achieve net zero, we are further supporting our goals with smart energy solutions and technology that will empower our homeowners through energy bill affordability and tremendous resiliency during inclement weather.”

The neighborhood in Aurora is one of two new smart neighborhoods being developed by Habitat for Humanity and Nicor Gas. The second community of homes in Northern Fox Valley is slated to break ground in late 2024.

Federal funding for the neighborhood was secured by U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) of the 11th District.

"In Congress, it has always been one of my top priorities to ensure the communities I represent receive their fair share of federal resources," Foster said in a prepared statement. "That's why I was proud to secure $1.25 million in federal funding to provide the infrastructure for this Smart Neighborhood. Not only will this project help 17 families achieve the dream of home ownership, but it will also invest in the technologies that are integral to our clean energy future."