| Green
Housing for People who Need it the Most
The Affordable Green Housing Center was launched in April
2008 as a major new program of Environmental Health Watch to
promote healthy, affordable green housing. Our emphasis is on
renovation and maintenance of existing housing, however, we
will address new construction and deconstruction as well. The
new Center will provide educational resources and technical
assistance, foster partnerships and demonstration projects,
and advocate for public policies.
The Center was established to help address the multiple environmental,
health and economic problems related to housing in Northeast
Ohio, particularly for low- and middle-income families and communities.
- Homes can be a significant source of health hazards associated
with lead poisoning, asthma, and other illnesses.
- The cost of housing and utilities continues to rise, straining
the household budgets of a growing proportion of families.
Utility costs - gas, electric, water, sewer - have a disproportionate
impact on lower income residents. High utility bills increase
the risk of evictions and foreclosures.
- Residential energy use is an important contributor to regional
air pollution and global greenhouse gas emissions. Housing
contributes 21% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
Mandy Metcalf is the director of the Affordable Green Housing
Center, having most recently served as director for the Cleveland
EcoVillage in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Matt Berges,
a Cleveland green builder, is Green Housing Manager for the
Center. Jim LaRue, healthy housing and green building pioneer,
is the Center’s building science consultant. Initial funding
for the Center is from the Cleveland Foundation.
A green house is: Healthy, saves $, is part of a
sustainable community, and has a positive environmental impact
Our approach to green housing is holistic, promoting healthy
indoor environments, increased housing affordability, positive
environmental impacts, and sustainable communities. The Center
will focus on the total lifecycle of the house in these action
areas:
Read
the article about EHW's Affordable Green Housing Center in the
Summer
2008 edition of EarthWatch Ohio.
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