Shelby County Habitat for Humanity to Break World Record Set By New Zealand and Build The 'World's Fastest House'
PRNewswire
  What:           Shelby County Habitat for Humanity, the Alabama Associated
                  General Contractors (AGC) and its Young Constructor's
                  Forum and other sponsors will build the "world's fastest
                  house," breaking the world record set in New Zealand in
                  2000.

  When:           Thursday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
                  Dedication ceremony: 3:40 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.

  Where:          39 New Hope Drive, Montevallo

  Homeowner:      Bonnie Lilly, a nursing technician and single mother

  Sponsors:       This project has community-wide participation from
                  approximately 75 sponsors, including churches, nonprofit
                  organizations, professional associations, businesses,
                  schools and civic groups.

                  Major sponsors include the Alabama AGC (Associated General
                  Contractors of America) and its Young Constructor's Forum,
                  Lowe's Home Improvement, Alabama Power Service
                  Organization, AMICA Insurance, BellSouth Pioneers, Brice
                  Building Company and Wheeler's Building Materials.

  VIPs:           Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat
                  International from Americus, Georgia, will be onsite and
                  available to autograph his latest book, "Building
                  Materials for Life."  Vonetta Flowers, 2001 Olympic Gold
                  Medallist, will sound the starting gun for construction.

  History:        The idea for the world's fastest house came from Mark
                  Davis, a local inventor and businessman who is on Shelby
                  County Habitat's Board.  Davis visited New Zealand on
                  business in 2000 and learned the Habitat organization
                  there had set the world record for building a house -- in
                  just 3 hours, 44 minutes, 59 seconds.  Davis challenged
                  the Shelby County Habitat for Humanity chapter to beat the
                  world record.  The Alabama AGC team also took on the
                  challenge, and has spent hundreds of hours designing and
                  planning the construction step-by-step.  The New Zealand
                  team shared a video of the house being built, which the
                  Alabama AGC team has studied like a football team studying
                  a play-by-play tape.  They plan to build the three-
                  bedroom, two-bath home in Montevallo in 3 hours, 14
                  minutes.  The last record set in Alabama for building a
                  Habitat for Humanity home was 23 hours, 30 minutes, set by
                  Alabama Power in April 2000 on the first anniversary of
                  the F-5 tornado that hit Jefferson County.

                  A storage building will be built by members of the media.

  Key events:     9:00 a.m.      Hospitality and Information Tents open.
                  10:45 a.m.     Vonetta Flowers takes post with Millard
                                 Fuller, Doug Demmons, Mark Davis, Chad
                                 Calhoun and major sponsors.
                  11:00 a.m.     Vonetta Flowers sounds starting gun and
                                 clock starts for construction countdown.
                  11:30 a.m.     Mini-build of storage shed by media begins.
                  Noon           Lunch is available for spectators and
                                 volunteers.
                  1:15 p.m.      BellSouth Pioneers host Millard Fuller for
                                 book signing at Hospitality Tent.
                  2:30 p.m.      (or before) Build is complete.  Millard
                                 Fuller and Mark Davis speak.
                  3:30 p.m.      New Zealand representative presents trophy.
                  3:40 p.m.      Dedication ceremony begins.
                  5:25 p.m.      Santa Claus and his elves pay a visit to
                                 the Lilly residence and other families at
                                 New Hope Village.
                  5:30 p.m.      Lowe's Home Improvement hosts Millard
                                 Fuller book-signing at its Valleydale Road
                                 location.
                  6:20 p.m.      Christmas lighting ceremony and music at
                                 Lilly residence.

  Driving
  directions:     From Birmingham, take I-65 South to Shelby County Airport
                  exit #234.  Turn left off exit and go to Route 12, which
                  will dead-end at Route 22.  Turn right onto Route 22 and
                  go to the stoplight at Route 119.  Turn left and go into
                  downtown Montevallo.  Just past McDonald's and Subway,
                  turn right onto Route 10 (Middle Street).  Look for
                  Habitat for Humanity parking sign.

  Contacts:       Doug Demmons, Executive Director of Shelby County Habitat:
                  (205) 969-3271
                  Mark Davis, Board of Directors, Shelby County Habitat:
                  (205) 663-7006
                  Bill Caton, Alabama AGC: (205) 252-8021
                  Chad Calhoun, Project Manager, Brice Building Co.:
                  (205) 930-9911
                  Contact Erin Drummond of Shelby County Habitat for
                  Humanity to talk with Bonnie Lilly, recipient of the
                  "World's Fastest House": (205) 838-1009

  Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company ,
  provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.3 million
  customers across the state.  Alabama Power's average retail price is more
  than 15 percent below the national average.  The Alabama Power Service
  Organization (APSO) includes more than 3,000 Alabama Power, Southern
  Nuclear and Southern Company employees and their families.  APSO members
  pledge their money and their volunteer labor to a variety of worthy cause
  across the state.

  CONTACT:  Sandi G. Robinson of Alabama Power, +1-205-257-4155, or
  skgeorge@southernco.com; or Doug Demmons, Executive Director of Shelby
  County Habitat for Humanity, 969-3271, or dpdemmons@aol.com

PRNewswire -- Dec. 6

SOURCE: Alabama Power Company