The Health of Our Homes
A local utility company's survey recently showed that nearly 400,000 Arkansas homes could benefit from significant energy efficiency improvements. Many of these improvements could be easily done and the costs could be paid off quickly. Moreover, studies show that a healthy home can reduce the cost of health care and make our daily lives happier.
At a time when the economy is weak and high energy demands threaten the health of our planet -- and therefore, the health of future generations, this program offers great benefit at little cost. In addition to improving energy efficiency, this project will target improved air quality and other issues reacted to the health of homes.
We are working with a wide variety of community partners, including neighborhood associations, community development corporations, churches, service professionals and trades people, nonprofit groups, and the UAMS College of Public Health to improve not only energy efficiency, but air quality and other issues related to the health of homes. By consolidating our efforts with those of other organizations, we are providing leadership and working collaboratively to educate residents on the impact of overall health and efficiency of homes; reaching a larger number of people using minimal investment and resources; providing opportunities for low-income families to engage trusted service professionals for audits and improvements; helping residents to understand their individual audits; and helping residents to make needed improvements.
What We Do
-Educates residents on the impact of efficiency and health of homes.
-With minimal investment and resources, effectively reaches large numbers of people.
-Provides opportunities for low-income families to engage service professionals for audits and improvements.
-Helps residents understand their individual audits.
-Educates residents on methods of making improvements and on where to find affordable materials.
-Helps residents make improvements.
How We Do It
-Uses trained and qualified staff and volunteers to teach periodic classes.
-Partners with other community organizations, such as churches and other nonprofits.
-Uses local energy companies' home auditing services and other qualified professionals to determine the energy efficiency and health of individual homes.
-Provides access to trusted, qualified and experienced people to help home owners
-Analyze results of their audits and evaluations to determine the best and most cost effective improvements.
-Discuss best practices.
-Contact contractors who specialize in the services needed.
The Health of Our Communities
In January of 2010, Village Commons hosted a community meeting to discuss racial health disparities, and what we as a community might do to address current needs through sustainable lifestyle solutions and positive collective action. The meeting, which was facilitated by Drs. Kate Stewart and Creshelle Nash of the UAMS College of Public Health, provided a springboard for an ongoing conversation about ways in which the sustainability movement can address health disparities in the neighborhoods we serve.
As a result of this meeting, Village Commons' focus on healthy homes was expanded in order to address the overall health of communities. We established a working group to develop this initiative, which will include training in home health auditing and examine ways in which we can respond to the needs of adults and youth in our urban neighborhoods. We hold planning meetings twice a month, and all who are interested are invited to come and participate fully in the development of these initiatives.
Dates for the meetings will be posted on our calendar web page, and in our e-newsletter.
Please check for dates, come, and get involved in this exciting and transformational work!
click here for more information on our healthy communities projects