1. Green & Healthy Housing
Ellen Tohn
Tohn Environmental Strategies
www.tohnenvironmental.com

3. Childhood Asthma in NE
Lifetime & Current Asthma Rates, Children <18
yrs.
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
CT ME MA NH RI VT NE
Lifetim e Current
Source: Asthma Regional Council of New England

4. Asthma Triggers

5. Dampness and Asthma
Health Problem Estimated % Increase in
Damp Homes
Upper respiratory tract 52%
symptoms
Cough 50%
Wheeze 44%
Current asthma 50%
Ever-diagnosed asthma 33%
Source: National Academy of Sciences

6. Boston Property Maintenance Costs/yr/unit
Low Mean High
Water and sewer $117 $516 $977*
Pest control $32 $75 $156
Painting $13 $72 $189
Landscaping $0 $72 $187
Appliances $0 $22 $79
Cabinets - Maintenance $0 $34 $83
Cleaning supplies $2 $33 $65
Lighting fixtures and bulbs $6 $17 $38
Ovens and ranges $0 $15 $26
Windows $0 $5 $26
Lighting – Fixtures only $0 $9 $18
Kitchen and bath fans $0 $9 $2
Lighting - Bulbs only $0 $3 $6
* High costs are due to an unnoticed water usage with an outside hose.

7. JP Apartment Work Orders
JP Apartment Work Orders
Other Water Related
26% Water Related
30% Electrical
Appliance Repair Replace
Pest Control
CO/Smoke Detector
Flooring Repair Replace Painting
Electrical
14% 9% Flooring Repair Replace
Painting
7%
Appliance Repair
Replace
Other
6%
Pest Control
2%
CO/Smoke Detector
6%

8. Water Savings: Multi Family

9. Pest Control
• No Spray & Fogging for
roaches & mice
• Monitoring pest
populations & complaints
• Reduce asthma triggers
• Cost savings over time
• Use Quality Pro certified
firms
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10. Indiana Roach Control
% UNITS ROACH FREE
Traditional
IPM
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
• IPM: vacuums, baits & insect growth regulators
• Traditional: baseboard spraying & borate dusts
• Pesticide use cut > 50 times (827 grams/unit to 15 grams/unit.

11. Tenants Want Smoke Free
• 78% of Maine tenants surveyed prefer smoke free
environments.
• Washington State- nearly 70% of renters very interested
or interested in living in smoke-free housing (2003)
• Los Angeles-Telephone survey 69% favor requiring all
apartment buildings to offer nonsmoking sections
(2004).
• Oregon- Portland metro-area survey -- 75% of renters
say they would choose a smoke-free rental, "other
things being equal".
Source: Smoke-Free Housing New England

12. Smoke Free Saves $$
Source: Source: Smoke Free New England Free Housing New
England

13. Green Cleaning, Painting, and Flooring
Cleaning
Flooring
GreenSeal or EcoLogo Products. Dfe
products are not certified but reviewed. GreenLabel Plus Carpet (e.g., - Mohawk
Everstrand Green Label Plus) or
Supply microfiber wipes and mops. Use Florescore resilient flooring products (e.g.,
HEPA filtration vacuums. Armstrong Imperial Textures VCT).
Purchase paper products that are either  Smooth and cleanable flooring.
Green Seal certified or Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Entryway mats /grates to capture dust and
contaminants.
Painting
GreenSeal certified or meet LEED for
Homes VOC standards.
Examples : Sherwin Williams Property
Solutions and Benjamin Moore Eco
Spec Waterborne.
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