Renovating Lives earns green certification

YW’s Renovating Lives: Floor by Floor central building transformation received Enterprise Green Communities certification for its commitment to environmentally-friendly building standards.Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit organization that brings together nationwide know-how, partners, policy leadership and investment to multiply the impact of local affordable housing development, like YWCA Dayton’s Permanent Supportive Housing program.According to Enterprise, green building practices lead to healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible homes that addresses our changing climate, improves health and well-being of residents, and is economically viable for the long term. The Enterprise Green Communities certification is the only national green building program designed explicitly for the affordable housing sector.“It is similar to LEED certification, but specifically for affordable housing,” explained Andrea Moneypenny, senior project manager at The Model Group, which oversaw YW’s Renovating Lives project. “Sol Design and Consulting assisted the project through the process, outlining the requirements and then verifying that YW met them all before sending on to Enterprise for their final verification.”Some of the elements that were incorporated into the project to meet this certification include:

  • Energy Star-certified refrigerators and laundry machines
  • Energy-efficient lighting
  • A significant percentage of the construction waste diverted from a landfill (recycled or salvaged)
  • Low-VOC paints and adhesives
  • Integrated carbon monoxide detectors
  • Utility tracking performed by a third party
  • Low-flow sinks and toilets

Phases I and II of the renovation were completed in 2019 and made up 100 percent of YW program spaces, including its domestic violence shelter and PSH units, which were transformed from single bedrooms with communal kitchens and restrooms to studio and one-bedroom apartments.Not only is the new space friendly to the earth; it’s invigorating to the spirit, said resident Myesha Hawkins: “When I first moved in, I was excited and a different feeling came over me. I started feeling like this is where I belong and this is mine.”

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