June is National Healthy Homes Month!
To celebrate National Healthy Homes Month, an initiative by HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, we’ve put together some tips and resources to encourage safe, healthy, and supportive environments.
For owners, developers, or builders looking to build new or renovate, some of the top recommendations to consider when designing your project include (Source: the Fitwel Certification System):
- Provide improved access to local transportation, green spaces, and community shared spaces
- Design and maintain the building to:
- Reduce interior and exterior noise pollution
- Adopt a smoke-free building policy or assign dedicated covered outdoor smoking areas
- Certify Asbestos Free renovations
- Align with local, state, and federal Lead-Safe guidelines
- Adopt and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) policy
- Establish an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy
- Provide operable windows for adequate lighting, egress, and ventilation
- Provide ADA compliant access points, bathrooms, and common area amenities
- Provide a dedicated fitness area
- Provide a usable ventilation strategy
- And more! You can download a copy of the Fitwel Scorecard for free, even if the program is not for you.
For residents, consider the “5 minutes to a healthier home” approach, as outlined in this infographic:
Image Source: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/5MINUTES.PDF
For more information on National Healthy Homes Month 2018, please visit www.hud.gov/healthyhomes.