Funding-Limited submission - US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program; October 12, 2009

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the availability of funding for approximately $2.4 million for HUD’s Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program for FY2009 to fund cooperative agreements to improve knowledge of the effects green residential building has on: 1) indoor environmental quality, and 2) occupant health, with a particular focus on children and other sensitive populations in low income households.

The Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program has the following primary objectives:

1. To identify residential green building methods (for both the construction of new housing and the rehabilitation of existing housing) that are cost effective at improving IEQ and providing the maximum health benefits to housing occupants, with a particular focus on children and other sensitive populations; and
2. To promote the incorporation of cost effective residential green building methods into the construction and rehabilitation of low- and moderate-income housing.

Specific Areas of Interest:

1. Greening of Low-Income Housing: Applicants are encouraged to design studies that focus on low income housing, including federally-supported housing. Examples of green initiatives sponsored or supported by HUD include: the Office of Affordable Housing Preservation’s Mark to Market Green Rehab Initiative, the Office of Community Development and Planning’s Competitive Reallocation of Community Housing Development Organizations Funds to Provide for Energy Efficient and Environmentally-Friendly Housing for Low-Income Families, and
2. HOPE VI housing that incorporates green design features. For resources on designing, implementing and evaluating a project for the assessment and remediation of housing-related environmental health and safety hazards that result in illnesses to children.
3. Voluntary Guidelines: Assessing the IEQ and health benefits of residential green building conducted according to various voluntary guidelines, including: U.S. EPA’s Energy Star with
4. Indoor Air Package, Enterprise Community Partners Green Communities Criteria, U.S. Green
5. Building Council’s LEED for Homes, and National Association of Home’s Builder’s Green Home Building Guidelines.
6. Determining the Effects of Specific Features: HUD is interested in the IEQ and health benefits of including specific practices (e.g., IPM, or upgrades to ventilation systems) in residential green construction. HUD is interested in identifying features that may not be part of a specific green building program, but which significantly enhance the effects of the program on IEQ and health.
7. Injury Prevention Measures: HUD is interested in demonstrating the feasibility and cost effectiveness of incorporating injury prevention measures into residential green building. Such measures (e.g., grab bars in showers, anti-scald devices, lockable medicine cabinets) are not typically included in a green building program but could be incorporated to enhance the effects
8. of the program on resident safety and health.
9. Other Topic Areas: OHHLHC will also consider funding applications on other topics that are consistent with the overall goals and objectives of the Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Program and Healthy Homes Program.

The full announcement can be accessed at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa09/ghhtssec.pdf.

Because HUD allows only one application from an organization for a given project, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Monday, October 12, 2009:

• Title and location of the proposed project
• Names and departments of the Principal Investigator(s), project personnel, collaborating institutions and/or other partners
• Estimated cost of the project
• Narrative (4 pages maximum) containing project objectives and project description

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review this material and make a recommendation. All applicants will be notified in time to prepare and submit the application and supporting material for the November 17, 2009 deadline.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).