While upgrading affordable housing to include energy-efficient features may help residents' utility bills, the materials used to make the upgrades can pose significant health risks to anyone who interacts with them. A new report Making Affordable Multifamily Housing More Energy Efficient: A Guide to Healthier Upgrade Materials by Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) will help guide builders and policymakers in how to choose healthier insulation and sealing materials. As a result, the EEFA is hoping the frameworks will accelerate the adoption of the materials and improve air quality in communities.
The National Resources Defense Council's Michele Knab Hasson explains more about the report:
The report, developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Elevate Energy in collaboration with The Healthy Building Network (HBN), Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Three3, and the International Living Future Institute, fills the information gap faced by builders in trying to determine the chemical makeup and risks of commonly used materials, presenting a comprehensive and accessible compendium of alternative, safer products.
It found that in some cases business-as-usual is the right approach. For example, some of the best insulation materials from a health perspective are commonly used fiber glass and cellulose insulation.
But other widely used products such as spray foam and modified polymer and polyurethane sealants commonly contain isocyanates, flame retardants, and phthalates that have been linked to severe health problems and reproductive health issues.
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