June is National Healthy Homes Month! NHHM is an awareness campaign to emphasize the importance of safe and healthy homes while highlighting the link between housing and the health of individuals and communities. NASCSP is a member of the National Safe and Healthy Housing Coalition, a broad group of over 650 members, including 400 organizations, working to improve housing conditions nationwide through education and outreach to key national stakeholders and federal public decision makers. The coalition promotes policies for safe and healthy housing in the United States, with special emphasis on those who are disproportionately impacted. Below you can find more information about how weatherization and healthy homes are connected, as well as other resources and social media posts to help you engage during National Healthy Homes month.
Healthy Homes and Weatherization
The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) plays a key role in making homes more livable and healthy. Beyond its primary mission of improving energy efficiency in low-income households to reduce energy costs, research has found that weatherization has numerous positive health impacts. Weatherizing a home can lead to fewer heat or cold related deaths, as vulnerable families may turn to unsafe fuel sources when they have difficulty paying their energy bills. The National Evaluation by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that 33% of individuals reported improved health of household members after their home was weatherized. Residents of weatherized homes also reported better mental health due to decreased financial stress and more comfort. Three US studies of low-income homes where energy efficiency work was conducted showed 12% fewer asthma related emergency department visits.
The health benefits of weatherization and residential energy efficiency were monetized in the WAP’s 2015 evaluation performed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. According to the evaluation, every DOE WAP dollar spent resulted in $4.50 in benefits. These include $1.72 in energy savings, which can instead be used by low income families to pay for medical bills, food, or other necessities, as well as $2.78 in non-energy benefits including health and safety. On average, the total health-related savings in each weatherized unit were $14,148.
Across the country, many states are working to implement a more comprehensive Weatherization Plus Health approach, designed to go beyond the health and safety measures traditionally included in WAP. The Weatherization Plus Health model aims to facilitate strong partnerships between WAP and Healthy Homes providers nationwide. This builds on the inherent health benefits associated with energy efficiency, while utilizing the highly skilled and trained WAP network to provide additional Healthy Homes services. See more in Washington, Vermont, and North Carolina.
Additional Resources
- NASCSP Weatherization Plus Health Resource Page
- HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH)
- National Center for Healthy Housing
- Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI)
Suggested Social Media Posts
You can utilize the following pre-made social media posts and infographics for Facebook and Twitter.
Infographics
- Almost 26 million people in the U.S. are living with asthma today. Learn how #weatherization can help reduce asthma triggers and symptoms https://nascsp.org/wap/waptac/wap-resources/weatherization-plus-health/ #NHHM2020 #WeatherizationPlusHealth
- June is National Healthy Homes Month! This year’s theme ‘Healthy Housing for All’ highlights the importance of a healthy home environment, no matter who you are or where you live! Click for more: https://hud.gov/healthyhomes #NHHM2020 #HealthyHomes
- June is National Healthy Homes Month! Some great accounts to follow for info and resources include: @HUDHealthyHomes @HealthyHousing @NCHH #NHHM2020 #WAP #HealthyHomes
- #DidYouKnow? #Weatherization can reduce mold, dust, and other asthma triggers. A national evaluation from @ORNL found that residents of weatherized homes reported fewer asthma symptoms and hospitalizations. Learn more here: https://nascsp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ORNL_TM-2014_345.pdf #NHHM2020 #HealthyHomes
- Is your home healthy? Learn more about healthy homes, asthma, and lead at https://nascsp.org/wap/waptac/wap-resources/weatherization-plus-health/ and HUD.gov/HealthyHomes @HUDHealthyHomes #NHHM2020 #WAP #HealthyHomes
In the U.S. today, people spend close to 90% of their time indoors. This has also been magnified during the time of COVID-19. National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) is a campaign designed to help people connect the dots between their health and their home. Learn more from the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes here: www.hud.gov/healthyhomes #NHHM2020 #HealthyHomes
Currently, millions of U.S. homes have moderate to severe physical housing problems, including dilapidated structure; roofing problems; heating, plumbing, and electrical deficiencies; water leaks and intrusion; pests; damaged paint; and high radon levels. These conditions are associated with a wide range of health issues, including unintentional injuries like slips and falls as well as respiratory illnesses like asthma. Weatherization not only increases the energy efficiency of homes, but it also helps ensure homes are comfortable, healthy, and safe. Learn more about the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program here: https://www.energy.gov/eere/wipo/weatherization-assistance-program #NHHM2020 #WAP #HealthyHomes
June is National Healthy Homes Month! This year’s theme ‘Healthy Housing for All’ highlights the importance of a healthy home environment, no matter who you are or where you live! Learn more about how weatherization and health homes are connected, as well as resources to engage in National Healthy Homes month: https://nascsp.org/healthy-homes-month-2020/
