Health Outcomes and Green Renovation of Affordable Housing

Abstract

Objective. This study sought to determine whether renovating low-income housing using "green" and healthy principles improved resident health and building performance.Methods. We investigated resident health and building performance outcomes at baseline and one year after the rehabilitation of low-income housing using Enterprise Green Communities green specifications, which improve ventilation; reduce moisture, mold, pests, and radon; and use sustainable building products and other healthy housing features. We assessed participant health via questionnaire, provided Healthy Homes training to all participants, and measured ventilation, carbon dioxide, and radon.Results. Adults reported statistically significant improvements in overall health, asthma, and non-asthma respiratory problems. Adults also reported that their children's overall health improved, with significant improvements in non-asthma respiratory problems. Post-renovation building performance testing indicated that the building envelope was tightened and local exhaust fans performed well. New mechanical ventilation was installed (compared with no ventilation previously), with fresh air being supplied at 70% of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers standard. Radon was ,2 picocuries per liter of air following mitigation, and the annual average indoor carbon dioxide level was 982 parts per million. Energy use was reduced by 45% over the one-year post-renovation period.Conclusions. We found significant health improvements following low-income housing renovation that complied with green standards. All green building standards should include health requirements. Collaboration of housing, public health, and environmental health professionals through integrated design holds promise for improved health, quality of life, building operation, and energy conservation.

Indoor air quality in 24 California residences designed as high-performance homes

“…Research efforts including both simulations and field measurements have demonstrated increased negative health effects or poor IAQ in efficient or retrofitted residences that did not sufficiently address IAQ provisions (Emmerich et al, 2005;Milner et al, 2014;Offermann, 2009;Wilson et al, 2013). Yet, other research efforts that have consistently included IAQ best practices have demonstrated improved health outcomes and generally reduced pollutant levels (Breysse et al, 2011;Jacobs, 2013;Kovesi et al, 2009;Leech et al, 2004;Noris et al, 2013a;Weichenthal et al, 2013). These mixed research findings substantiate the concerns of those who are concerned that efficiency may be implemented in residences without sufficient IAQ countermeasures.…”

Green Buildings and Health

“…General Services Admin. (GSA) [35•]Not ProvidedOffices↑ Occupant satisfaction- 22 green↑ Thermal comfort↓ AcousticsSingh et al [45]263Offices↑ Self-reported well-being- 2 green↓ Absenteeism- 1 conventional↓ Asthma and allergy symptomsStudies with IEQ Measurements + Occupant SurveysLiang et al [46]233Offices↑ Thermal comfort- 3 green↑ Air quality- 2 conventional↑ Lighting↑ AcousticsRavindu et al [47]70Factories↓ Thermal comfort- 1 green↓ Ventilation- 1 conventionalNewsham et al [48]2545Offices↑ Air quality- 12 green↓ Acoustics- 12 conventionalJacobs et al [49•]58Public housing↑ Self-reported well-being- 1 green rehabilitation↑ Cleanliness↓ AllergensGarland et al [50]Not ProvidedPublic housing↓ Asthma and allergy symptoms- 1 green rehabilitationBreysse et al [51•]41Public housing↓ Respiratory symptoms- 1 green rehabilitationColton et al [16••]24Public housing↑ Air quality- 1 green rehabilitation↑ Ventilation- 1 conventional↓ Asthma symptomsStudies with Objective Health Outcome MeasuresThiel et al [52••]Not ProvidedHospitals↑ Employee satisfaction- 1 green↑ Quality of care- 1 conventional↓ Length of open positions↓ Patient mortality…”

“…Breysse et al used validated surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study the effectiveness of green renovations in public housing [51•]. Significant decreasing trends in the number of reported non-asthma respiratory problems (e.g., emphysema, hay fever, sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis) prevailed for 18 months after moving into the renovated space, both in children and adults.…”

Indoor air quality and occupant comfort in homes with deep versus conventional energy efficiency renovations

“…Several environmental health studies on energy efficient retrofits have focused on measures of health [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] or housing conditions other than indoor air quality [20,23].…”

“…The majority report energy efficient homes are associated with health benefits [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], although Sharpe and colleagues report higher physician-diagnosed adult asthma cases among those living in energy efficient dwellings [25]. A recent meta-analysis by Maidment and colleagues found a small, but statistically significant improvement in health associated with energy efficient housing, but also acknowledge the need for additional research in this area [26].…”