Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Need for Green Affordable Housing



Daniel Hewes graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in urban planning in 2015. Before earning his degree, he gained experience working as a researcher and outreach associate for The Sustainable Performance Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, which entailed collaborating with the United States Green Building Council chapters and the American Institute of Architects chapters. As an urban planning graduate, Daniel Hewes also has a keen interest in eco-friendly affordable housing developments.

Developing green affordable housing is an important part of creating sustainable communities. Affordable housing that is not energy-efficient often results in high utility bills for residents. According to some studies, low-income families pay a higher percentage of their income to utility bills than medium-income families. This is a serious problem for the low-income demographic since many seniors, people with disabilities, and children fall into this category. 

In addition, environmentally unfriendly buildings may be constructed with materials that are toxic or exacerbate asthma, allergies, and other chronic conditions.