AmeriCorps VISTA; Environmental Stewardship; Sustainable Home Building and Energy Conservation Education  

For over 30 years, NHS of New Haven, a chartered member of the national NeighborWorks® Network, is focused on economic development in local communities, social grassroots outreach/ development, and environmental stewardship in healthy homes/ healthy neighborhoods.

NHS of New Haven has taken environmental stewardship to heart, building the Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Laboratory to support our low-income homeowners. In the Housing Rehab Department’s first year hosting an AmeriCorps VISTA, Jeff Kruth provided essential architectural services during the LEED documentation and application process. In the spring of 2012, the Lab received LEED Platinum certification, the highest certification level.

The Lab, the first of its kind in Connecticut, is the centerpiece of the post-purchase homebuyer education programming. Heating expenses for Connecticut’s 231,000 poorest families cost $2,200 more last year than what they could afford (N2N Infographic). This emphasizes how critically important it is to our community members to avoid unnecessary expenses. Energy conservation techniques are taught through demonstration exhibits and hands-on workshops in which they learn inexpensive ways to reduce energy costs at home, serving over 650 participants since 2009. Neighborhood residents may also apply for rehabilitation loans from us to make reinvestment and energy-reducing upgrades to their homes.

NHS of New Haven has renovated and sold over 400 homes to low- and moderate-income families since 1979. The Housing Rehab Department is always pushing construction best practices, following the Department of the Interior Standards for Historic Preservation and Energy Star sustainability standards. Currently, the Rehab Department has the pleasure of hosting two AmeriCorps VISTAs with architecture backgrounds, Eric Goldman and Brita Carlson. Both provide invaluable assistance in short and long term projects, including design development, construction administration, and post occupancy assistance. Their interest in sustainability, design, and construction is a driving force in best practices and innovative expansions in environmentally conscience rehabilitation construction work. It is the Housing Rehabilitation Department’s belief that environmental stewardship must includes natural resource conservation, long term sustainably viable construction, and the development of homes for a healthy, improved quality of life. With it estimated that people spend 85-90% of their time indoors, care is taken to focus on the quality of life within the homes built. Improved indoor air quality, day lighting, and water efficiency are major factors that improve the quality of NHS homes while also having direct cost savings.

It would be remiss not to mention two other AmeriCorps VISTAs that currently serve in different departments at NHS of New Haven. Jennifer Thomas, in the Community Outreach Department, and Adam Rawlings, in his second AmeriCorps VISTA year with NHS, have been revamping community connectivity through the NHS website and social media outreach- increasing workshop participation, the number of volunteer events, and NHS exposure in neighborhoods served. All the VISTAs work revolves around the principle of revitalizing healthy, sustainable communities within a multi-faceted approach. The knowledge gained by the VISTAs while working with the experienced NHS staff is only matched by the appreciation all have for their hard work and dedication.