About homeWord: homeWORD began as a project of WORD (Women’s Opportunity and Resource Development, Inc.) in 1995. In 1998, homeWORD became its own 501(c)(3) with its own Board of Directors. It formed as a response to the community need for affordable housing and aimed to provide meaningful economic change in lower income families lives.
homeWORD uses innovative, sustainable, and replicable methods to develop affordable housing and asset-building strategies for those most in need. homeWORD commits to developing projects where women build equity and control in their lives; uses empowering methods to engage residents and communities; builds strong partnerships within WORD and the community; recognizes the importance of aesthetics in promoting self-respect and empowerment; and strives for quality and beauty in all of its development projects.
Simultaneously, homeWORD works to educate the community and create policy that promotes housing affordability, sustainability, and asset development. Sustainable Practices, Products, & Services: homeWORD Sustainability Measures
Sustainability Vision
homeWORD’s holistic approach to affordable housing grew out of the simple notion that you cannot build for the future by destroying the environment. Green building is emerging as an important strategy for addressing the loss of biodiversity caused by the development of housing, long recognized for its taxing consumption of energy and materials and significant production of waste. For example, one quarter of wood harvested in the world is used in the construction of buildings. Overall, construction consumes more than 40 percent of the world’s energy and raw materials and accounts for 44 percent of the waste in our landfills. Because homeWORD recognizes the intrinsic link between long-term environmental costs, affordability, and community revitalization, it has made a commitment to green building. All homeWORD projects include strategies for resource and energy efficiency, waste reduction, smart land use, sustainable transportation systems, healthy indoor air quality, and community sensitive design. homeWORD’s values demonstrate a belief that achieving sustainability means paying attention to social equity, environmental conservation, and strengthening the local economy.
Applying the Vision
Each homeWORD project builds on the past experience of the previous projects, and the subsequent green features demonstrate a growing understanding and knowledge of green building practices. An overview of a few of homeWORD’s past projects illustrates its commitment to environmentally sensitive construction.
Fireweed Court: Completed in 1998, 12 units
Innovation
homeWORD partnered with the nationally acclaimed Center for Resourceful Building Technology to apply cutting edge energy and resource efficient technology as a demonstration project. (Since Fireweed’s construction, other developers have integrated these features into various projects around Missoula.)
A “woonerf” parking design - This creates a “living street”, which gives back the driveway approach to pedestrian use.
Hiring specifications for low-income women.
Green Building
Cement fiber board siding - The siding was made from a concrete composite and was utilized to reduce the use of wood and plastic. The siding is much lower maintenance than traditional siding materials.
Cellulose insulation – A recycled product made from recovered newsprint and other paper feedstocks.
Low VOC paints.
Glass fill from recycled, crushed glass placed underneath buildings.
Recycled content carpeting – PET pop bottles.
Strawbale wall with mosaic tile design to block street noise.
Salvaged wood for fence and on-site recycling shed.
Job site recycling/waste reduction plan and on-site recycling for residents.
Maintained mature trees on site.
The Lenox Flats: Completed in 2000, 10 units
Innovation
An historic preservation project – Green building advocates consider the preservation of buildings an important example of sustainable building since it conserves materials and uses the existing infrastructure.
A salvage and demolition contract to ensure that building parts and historic features were reused, contractors also were required to remove and reapply historic features.
Restoration of fire escape and egress into balconies.
Green Building
Completed energy model to determine best HVAC system.
An efficient fan coil heating and cooling system was installed to replace electric baseboard heating.
Smart land use – the Lenox is located downtown which uses the city’s existing infrastructure, and residents are within walking distance of services and amenities.
Insulation was added above and beyond the code requirements in order to boost the building’s efficiency.
Low VOC paints.
Native plantings.
Upgraded to compact fluorescent lighting to significantly reduce electric consumption.
Recycled content carpeting – PET pop bottles and tires. The carpet was stored off site for three months to let toxins off-gas before installation.
Wheatboard cabinets, an agricultural by-product, were used throughout the building.
Job site recycling/waste reduction plan.
Sheltered bike parking in the basement.
The Gold Dust: Completed in 2003, 18 units
Innovation
Rooftop community garden with perennial plants, apple trees, and garden boxes for resident use. The garden boxes are dedicated to organic urban agriculture and allow residents to grow their own healthy, fresh vegetables.
Reduced the parking to one space per unit, and reserved three apartments for residents who did not own cars (i.e. bike/ped units).
All 18 units have access to sheltered bike storage next to the building.
Shared workshop and community room for residents.
Green Building
Energy modeling used to determine the best HVAC system and building envelope.
Largest inter-tied photovoltaic system in Montana provides an estimated 1/3 to 1/2 of the power needs of the residents.
Radiant floor heating was installed in the main building and connected to a high-efficiency, gas fired boiler. This achieved 3 goals: energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and reduction in use of materials. (Carpeting is resource intensive and emits toxic gases.)
In two alley living units, 100% recycled carpet and pads are used.
Concrete mixture included fly ash, a Montana by-product of coal combustion, further reducing the use of extracted resources.
Orientation and design for daylighting.
Exterior lighting on astronomical time clock—programmed for sunrise and sunset and to go off during the night. Interior lighting is magnetically ballasted and supplied with energy efficient bulbs.
Low-E and shading devices on south side windows.
Low VOC paints and other products.
High-efficiency clothes dryers (gas) and other appliances, compact fluorescent lighting, and cross ventilation.
Energy Star appliances.
Wheatboard cabinets throughout the apartments.
Job site recycling/waste reduction plan and on-site recycling for residents.
Advanced framing techniques reduced the amount of wood used.
Modest size design - Shared community room, laundry and workshop space. Units compactly designed to minimize space wasted on circulation and maximize living square footage.
Smart land use - the Gold Dust was built close to the urban core, utilizing existing city infrastructure and offering proximity to services and amenities.
Storm water filtration through perforated pipes, which allows organic matter to cling to foreign substance and begin breakdown of inorganic material, allowing water to be cleaner before filtering to the aquifer.
Drip irrigation, low water consumptive plants.
Achieving the Vision
homeWORD believes that by developing affordable housing using green building principles, it models appropriate solutions for the construction industry and helps transform the housing market in the Rocky Mountain West. homeWORD is leading the discussion regarding the application of green building principles in the Rocky Mountain West through annual Sustainability Tours in Missoula and working regionally with the Rural Collaborative. homeWORD leads a summer series called the Sustainability Tours, which highlights efforts around Missoula to infuse sustainability into buildings and into the community. It attracts a diverse group of people from throughout the region, including contractors, developers, homeowners, renters, seniors, and students. homeWORD also works closely with the Rural Collaborative, a regional housing corporation founded to expand resources for affordable housing in small cities and rural towns in the West. As a founding member, homeWORD is advocating to incorporate green building criteria into the Rural Collaborative’s Loan Fund. homeWORD’s vision also includes promoting policy and regulatory reform to state agencies that encourage the adoption of green building concepts in their affordable housing grants and loans. Through applying green building principles to affordable housing, homeWORD hopes to create fundamental changes in a community’s social fabric and its sustainability. Important Dates & Facts: Awards & Achievements: 2006 Sustainable Business Council New Venture of the Year- Orchard Gardens Project by HomeWord |
