LEAP has always emphasized the “health” component of energy efficiency, but this spring we’re stepping it up a notch in central Virginia. We recently announced:
- A new partnership with well known allergy and asthma specialist Dr. Arvind Madaan of Charlottesville Allergy and Respiratory Enterprises (CARE)
- An in home assessment called the “Healthy and Efficient Home Evaluation,” currently in the pilot stage, that will be a low-cost option for evaluating a home’s energy efficiency and health and safety
- A free public workshop, “Is Your Home Making You Sick?”, on April 23 with Dr. Madaan, Tom Kavounas of Albemarle Heating and Air and LEAP’s own Laura Fiori.
The goal of these and our other healthy homes initiatives are to education people about the role that many energy improvements — air and duct sealing, proper ventilation, and the mitigation of moisture issues — play in improving indoor air quality (you know, the air our families breathe inside our homes). For families in particular, this can mean lower health care costs (check out this recent study that found some striking results) for those whose homes act as a trigger for asthma, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses resulting from mold growing unseen in the home, low-level carbon monoxide backdrafting, or gas leaks.
These chronic illnesses put a drain on our healthcare system, interfere with school attendance, and contribute to workplace absenteeism – to say nothing of the dent they put in families’ budgets. The link between energy efficiency, home health and an individual’s health is a public interest focus for federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Housing and Urban Development as embodied in their collaborative Healthy Homes Initiative.
And we’ve got the same focus here locally. 
“I believe LEAP offers an important opportunity for improving indoor air quality which can have a significant medical impact for people suffering from allergies and asthma. Allergies and Asthma are emerging epidemics. As patient-centric, result-driven Allergy, Asthma and Immunology specialists, we find such programs to potentially have a meaningful socio-economic and health impact for our community.” said Dr. Madaan, President, Charlottesville Allergy and Respiratory Enterprises (CARE; www.cvilleallergy.com)
The point is that energy efficient buildings are healthier places to live and work, and LEAP is are eager to team up with local doctors and health professionals to make that connection clear and compelling.
Learn more about moisture and mold and asthma and respiratory issues in our Energy Education Center and join us April 23 for our “Is Your Home Making You Sick?” workshop (reserve your spot by emailing tim@leap-va.org).
It’s time to breathe easy.
