This Dow Sustainability Fellows team partnered with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to leverage the link between human health and the built environment, offering specific recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in affordable housing builds in the interest of improving health outcomes. The project prioritizes addressing GHG emissions through an equity lens, pinpointing areas experiencing higher temperature changes, air pollution, and negative health impacts. The team’s deliverables, an ArcGIS Pro web map and a Healthy Housing Building Strategies booklet, are designed to empower HFHI affiliates to make informed decisions at every stage of the building process. The booklet presents practical and budget-conscious design solutions, taking into account the funding challenges associated with sustainable designs in affordable housing. The project aspires to set a precedent for sustainable construction in the affordable housing sector, fostering increased accessibility to sustainable building practices for HFHI affiliates.

Project Report