With
$1.8 million in Healthy Homes grants from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development and the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences these partners are implementing a
long-range program to build 35 Breathe Easy homes. These are homes designed to improved
indoor air quality, and ultimately
reduce asthma attacks in children.
High
Point's Breathe Easy homes are the first
of their kind in the nation and have special features to improve
overall indoor air quality and reduce indoor air pollutants.
Residents will take part in a study to link the new construction
methods to the incidence and severity of asthma attacks. As part of this
project, an environmental outreach program will focus on improving
resident health in general.
Tesfai
Gebrezgi was born in Ethiopia and has lived in public housing for 11
years. He has worried about his son’s asthma
for years. His son, now 12 years old, had severe asthma attacks for years.
Emergency trips to the
hospital became "normal" for the family. When Gebrezgi heard about the Breathe Easy homes at High
Point, he was living at Yesler Terrace, Seattle Housing’s 65 year
old garden community. He immediately started filling out the
necessary paper work to move. Six months ago Gebrezgi and his son
moved to their new Breathe Easy home at High Point. He says with
relief that his son has not had any attacks or emergency visits to
the hospital since they moved in.
Residents were chosen by a process that assessed the severity of the
children’s asthma. Participants volunteer to follow a lifestyle to
ensure the highest possible air quality for the children, including
no smoking, no pets, and restricting certain cleaning agents.
Also, as
part of the Breathe Easy Homes research project, coordinators work
with the families to reduce asthma triggers in their homes. For
example, health coordinators teach housekeeping techniques to reduce
dust and other allergens and distribute bedding covers, green
cleaning products and other supplies to promote good health.
"I don’t
have to worry that my son could stop breathing at any minute from an
asthma attack anymore – thanks to being able to live in a Breathe
Easy home at High Point," said Gebrezgi. "Since we moved into our
new home my son is doing much better. His medication dosage has been
lowered, he can breathe better and he hasn’t had any attacks."
The
Breathe Easy homes include airtight construction, insulated windows
and an insulated foundation to minimize dust, pollen and other
contaminants that can enter from outside. As part of the improved
indoor air quality package, an air-tight drywall approach was used
to reduce air leakage through exterior walls, minimizing
opportunities for mold growth.
Positive
ventilation is included to remove stale air and filter incoming
fresh air Hydronic heating, instead of forced-air heating, is included
to reduce airborne particles and organisms. Hard flooring, such
as linoleum, replaces traditional carpet that can trap dust and
allergens. Window blinds are used in the units instead of curtains
to reduce trapped dust. A HEPA filter vacuum is in each unit to
efficiently remove dust and other toxins and debris. Even the
landscaping surrounding the homes was designed to reduce seasonal
pollens.
For more
information about High Point, please
click here.
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