VELUX Group Brings Living Places Sustainable Housing Concept to the U.S. in New Partnership with Habitat for Humanity
The first application of the Living Places concept outside Europe will showcase how reimagining home design can improve health, comfort and affordability for American families.
The first Living Places–inspired homes in the United States will soon take shape in York County, as the VELUX Group and Habitat for Humanity of York County (HFHYC) launch a new partnership to introduce healthy, affordable and sustainable homes to the U.S. market.
At Habitat for Humanity of York County, we believe everyone deserves a decent place to live, and that includes homes that are healthy, efficient, and built for the future. This partnership with VELUX allows us to learn from proven international models while setting a new standard for sustainable affordable homeownership in the United States.
We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity of York County through our Living Places initiative to advance affordable, healthy, and sustainable housing. Together, we will develop a model that prioritizes affordability, energy efficiency, and long-term livability, recognizing that true affordability includes both construction and ongoing utility costs. This partnership demonstrates that features like skylights can play a meaningful role in even the most cost-effective housing, helping ensure everyone has access to better living.
The development in York County will include approximately three-to-five homes built with sustainability and affordability at their core. Drawing on the Living Places principles — healthy, shared, simple, adaptive and scalable — the project demonstrates how to deliver high quality, energy efficient homes at an affordable price. It also lays the groundwork for a model that can be scaled across the country in future partnerships.
Originally launched with prototypes exhibited in Copenhagen in 2023, Living Places projects and prototypes have popped up globally in other markets including the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ukraine.
The U.S. faces significant challenges in the built environment, including rising home prices, high regulatory costs, and a growing shortage of affordable options.
The collaboration represents an important step toward rethinking how American homes can be built for both people and planet. At VELUX, we believe healthier and more efficient buildings are essential to improving quality of life. With our Living Places building principles, we want to demonstrate that better homes can be built today using existing technologies and widely available materials.
The homes are the first step in a longer-term vision to bring the Living Places concept to more communities in the United States. By working with local partners who understand community needs and priorities, VELUX aims to scale a national model of residential construction that supports healthier living, reduces environmental impact and strengthens social connection.
For more information about the Living Places concept, visit: buildforlife.velux.com
About the VELUX Group
VELUX roof windows have been bringing daylight and fresh air into peoples’ homes around the world for more than 80 years, creating better living environments. We offer a range of products including roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sun screening products, and roller shutters, as well as installation and smart home solutions. They help create bright, healthy, and energy-efficient places for people who live, work, learn, and play under the roof. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in 37 countries and around 12,000 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company owned by the Villum Foundation and members of the Kann Rasmussen family. In 2024, the VELUX Group had a total revenue of EUR 2.96 billion while VKR Holding had a total revenue of EUR 3.87 billion. The same year, the Villum Foundation and the VELUX FOUNDATION donated a total of EUR 169 million in charitable grants. For more information about the VELUX Group, visit velux.com
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of York County is a nonprofit organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. HFHYC is dedicated to addressing disparities and creating equitable opportunities in the housing market through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing financial literacy education and access to resources to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.