Phase 1 – Review and Planning
The first phase of the Eco Healthy Homes Project involved a detailed industry analysis and consultation.
The review included industry and scientific literature and broad consultation with industry experts including: designer-builders, owner builders, suppliers, building inspectors, city planners, legal, co-housing, government, and insurance and lending professionals.
Industry conditions
We reviewed pollution problems related to the toxin and carbon footprint of building product manufacturing, transport, use and disposal. We looked at the current accessibility and achievability of deep-green building technologies and techniques, and the effectiveness of green building certifications.
It considered:
- negative impacts of today’s construction and land use practices
- systemic conditions responsible for the above
- specific barriers to building change
- and potential strategies for transformation.
We identified regulatory, cost and knowledge hurdles. A series of fact sheets were produced and some of the information is summarized on the following web pages:
The review also included a look at modern land tenure challenges that inhibit equitable access to secure residency. We looked at barriers to land sharing solutions, problems related to social isolation and insecure residency in the rental market, and the potential benefits of locally-reliant, socially-connected, deep green housing. This component of the project is currently on hold.
Seeking systemic solutions
Consultation continued in search of answers to the following questions:
1- What prevents builders from building to higher standards?
3- What deep green products are currently available?
4- How can industry changemakers collaborate to make better home building options more attainable ?
A strategic path to change
From the above inquiry the Eco Healthy Homes Project emerged in the form of a five phase plan. We consulted widely on the concept of replicable, customizable solutions and collaboration for mutual benefit. The key strategies of the plan include:
- identifying and raising awareness about the true costs of today’s approach to home construction
- identifying and raising awareness about the potential benefits of deep green home building
- forging collaborative industry relationships
- forming a cooperative for local collaborative production
- making deep green building solutions easier and less costly for builders
The five phases are summarized on this page.