Transcript:
In the Hope Village neighborhood of Detroit, a house that was once ravaged by fire and abandoned has been renovated to high energy efficiency standards.
Jones: “We did a total gut rehab on the place from top to bottom.”
Jeffrey Jones is a lifelong resident of the neighborhood and executive director of Hope Village Revitalization, a community nonprofit. The group developed the La Salle Eco-Demonstration house as their headquarters.
It has new insulation, efficient windows, electric heat pumps for heating and cooling, and rooftop solar panels that provide much of its energy.
The project shows how clean, efficient technology can revitalize buildings and cut energy costs for residents.
Jones: “Our utility bills for like nine months out of the year are roughly $28, which is unheard of in the city of Detroit.”
So to help neighborhood residents make some of these changes in their own homes, his group provides grants that can be used for repairs and energy retrofits.
Jones: “Reducing the utility burden helps those residents who are on the margins to stay in their homes.”
And the group plans to renovate a cluster of buildings in the neighborhood to create more efficient, affordable housing.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media. Thanks to the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference for logistical support.
