GBlist: Question: Sustainable and healthy homes

MICHAEL ROGERS (ROGERS.MICHAEL@epamail.epa.gov)
Tue, 18 Feb 1997 17:29:37 -0500

Strangely enough, I*d been away from the computer for several days and was pleasantly suprised to see discussion around a topic that I had just noted to myself (using a pencil and paper!): the question of a program that addressed sustainable and healthy homes in the U.S.

My questions were, and are:

1. Does anyone know of any programs similar to Canada*s Advanced Houses program (the generation after R2000) in the U.S.? Of the responses to the R2000 question, many focused, as did R2000, on energy (in a narrow sense). Do the programs mentioned take a holistic look at the entire house, from design through construction to occupancy to address not only energy-efficiency in the narrow sense, but also embodied energy, recycled/recyclable content, water use, heatlhy indoor environments, etc.?

2. Do folks see knowledge from the Canada*s Advanced Houses program being adopted in any wide-spread way in Canada? In the U.S.? (I notice that Tim Mayo will be presenting a session on lessons learned from the Advanced Houses program at the Affordable Comfort 97 conference in April).

3. What do you see as benefits/downsides/pitfalls-to-be-avoided in launching a similar *Advanced Houses* program in the U.S. at this time?

I*ve got my opinions on the last point, but I don*t want to prejudice any thoughts the list might have. I would enjoy your comments.

Thanks.

==============================
Mike Rogers
USEPA Indoor Environments Division
rogers.michael@epamail.epa.gov
202/233-9343
202/233-9562 FAX

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