Human Rights Heroes at Home 2009 - Green Alternatives

I nominate Garvin Jabusch of Loomis, California as my hero worthy of being considered for an award from Global Exchange. Garvin taught woodshop for 20 years at the high school level and then taught Building Construction for 13 years at the local community college. He retired over 20 years ago and since then he has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and most recently the Fuller Center for Housing. He has helped to build over 110 houses in locations that include Northern California, Mississippi, Louisiana, Hungary, Romania, Honduras, and Guatemala. Building homes in numerous US states and world countries requires flexibility, patience, and a knowledge of local building codes. For the last 4 years Garv’s emphasis has been on building “sustainable housing” for the poor living in Mississippi and the refugees of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. He advocates green building techniques that result in energy efficient homes that translate into savings for the homeowner of $50-100 a month. More insulation is built into each home. Roofs of metal or tile are preferred over roofing made from petroleum products. Siding is either stucco or a product combining cement and recycled paper. Decks are made from recycled plastic bottles and sawdust. High quality windows are installed with good weather stripping for excellent insulation. On the actual building site, scrap wood and cardboard boxes are all recycled and no bottled water is allowed.
These “facts” all give a picture of a man who is devoted to helping others while using his talents of building and construction. He believes deeply that construction methods need to benefit the future homeowner and the environment as well. He wants builders to embrace these “greener” methods and patiently works with them to change their traditional but less environmentally sound building techniques. He is organized and able to supervise others in a gentle, encouraging manner. He teaches volunteers to use tools with confidence and accomplish a common goal in a timely manner. He makes lifelong friends and is just as much a goodwill ambassador as a hands-on building supervisor.
How fortunate the homeowners are who have moved into a home which Garv helped to build. If walls could speak, they would tell of Garv’s passion and expertise, his attention to detail, his love for his country and the whole world, and above all, his real caring for the less fortunate and wanting them to have a better life. He is truly one of my heroes and I feel privileged to know him.