Green & Healthy Housing

Ellen TohnTohn Environmental Strategieswww.tohnenvironmental.com

Childhood Asthma in NE

Lifetime & Current Asthma Rates, Children <18yrs.

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

CT ME MA NH RI VT NE

Lifetime Current

Source: Asthma Regional Council of New England

Asthma Triggers

Dampness and Asthma

Health Problem Estimated % Increase in Damp Homes

Upper respiratory tract symptoms

52%

Cough 50%

Wheeze 44%

Current asthma 50%

Ever-diagnosed asthma 33%

Source: National Academy of Sciences

Boston Property Maintenance Costs/yr/unit

Low Mean High

Water and sewer $117 $516 $977*

Pest control $32 $75 $156

Painting $13 $72 $189

Landscaping $0 $72 $187

Appliances $0 $22 $79

Cabinets - Maintenance $0 $34 $83

Cleaning supplies $2 $33 $65

Lighting fixtures and bulbs $6 $17 $38

Ovens and ranges $0 $15 $26

Windows $0 $5 $26

Lighting – Fixtures only $0 $9 $18

Kitchen and bath fans $0 $9 $2

Lighting - Bulbs only $0 $3 $6* High costs are due to an unnoticed water usage with an outside hose.

JP Apartment Work Orders

Water Related30%

Electrical9%

Appliance Repair Replace

6%

Pest Control2%

CO/Smoke Detector6%

Painting7%

Flooring Repair Replace14%

Other26%

Water RelatedElectricalAppliance Repair ReplacePest ControlCO/Smoke DetectorPaintingFlooring Repair ReplaceOther

JP Apartment Work Orders

Water Savings: Multi Family

Pest Control

• No Spray & Fogging for roaches & mice

• Monitoring pest populations & complaints

• Reduce asthma triggers• Cost savings over time• Use Quality Pro certified

firms

9

Indiana Roach Control

• IPM: vacuums, baits & insect growth regulators• Traditional: baseboard spraying & borate dusts• Pesticide use cut > 50 times (827 grams/unit to 15 grams/unit.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

IPM

Traditional

% UNITS ROACH FREE

Tenants Want Smoke Free• 78% of Maine tenants surveyed prefer smoke free

environments.• Washington State- nearly 70% of renters very interested

or interested in living in smoke-free housing (2003)• Los Angeles-Telephone survey 69% favor requiring all

apartment buildings to offer nonsmoking sections (2004).

• Oregon- Portland metro-area survey -- 75% of renters say they would choose a smoke-free rental, "other things being equal".

Source: Smoke-Free Housing New England

Smoke Free Saves $$

Source: Source: Smoke Free New England Free Housing New England

13

Green Cleaning, Painting, and Flooring

CleaningGreenSeal or EcoLogo Products. Dfeproducts are not certified but reviewed.

Supply microfiber wipes and mops. Use HEPA filtration vacuums.

Purchase paper products that are either Green Seal certified or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

Painting GreenSeal certified or meet LEED for Homes VOC standards.

Examples : Sherwin Williams Property Solutions and Benjamin Moore Eco Spec Waterborne.

FlooringGreenLabel Plus Carpet (e.g., - Mohawk Everstrand Green Label Plus) or Florescore resilient flooring products (e.g., Armstrong Imperial Textures VCT).

Smooth and cleanable flooring.

Entryway mats /grates to capture dust and contaminants.