Ten in Two: Green Homeowners United
Ten in Two is a new series from WEHN. We engage with people across Wisconsin, share stories about their climate change work where they find inspiration, and their hopes for how it changes the public health landscape in Wisconsin. We will ask the same ten questions and their answers will take 2 minutes to read.
We hope their words will spark ideas, generate hope, and inspire you to take action on climate change.
1. Name and Job Title
Sadie Tuescher, President and Kevin Kane, Chief Economist
2. The Wisconsin community you call home and why
West Allis “Best Allis” for both home and work. It’s the 11th largest city in the state and the 2nd largest in Milwaukee county. West Allis is underappreciated, but it is still affordable to buy a home and the city is ripe for development and growth. We want to be part of the city's revitalization. It's improved a ton, lots of new businesses, restaurants, and breweries. One of our favorites is Su + 2, a locally owned cafe that offers plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options.
3. How do you describe what you do?
We are healthy home evaluators. We aim to be a one-stop shop for people to understand what they need to do to improve the health of their home and how they can afford it. When a homeowner experiences a problem like high utility bills or a drafty home, we start with an energy assessment to identify the home's leaky areas, where insulation is needed or absent, and other inefficiencies. We make recommendations and our teams work on the implementation. Our goal is to help people reduce their energy burden and do right by the planet at the same time.
We also educate homeowners on the health implications of what’s going on in the home. Addressing air quality can reduce the incidence of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Fixing steps and handrails can minimize the risk of falls.
4. What was the first thing you did this week (personally or professionally) to counteract the negative health impacts of climate change?
We started this organization because of research that suggested upgrading homes to be energy efficient is the single biggest thing society can do to cut emissions. Climate change is not icebergs far away, it’s where we wake up every morning. There's robust research on how insulating and air sealing buildings has positive health benefits. By working to help people make their home more energy efficient, we help them save energy, become more comfortable, and help the planet.
5. How is climate change work and public health crucial to your work and life?
We spent a long time focused on health policy in our former roles, and we saw over and over again that our environment impacts our mental and physical health. The consequences of inaction will affect everyone.
6. How does your local community/environment impact your work?
We get to offer people in our community an opportunity for immediate action that is tangible and accomplishable today and helps them save money in the long term.
In conjunction with Revitalize Milwaukee, we received a grant to do energy upgrades on homes of low-to-moderate income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities in Milwaukee and Waukesha. We are so excited about this grant because it helps folks who would otherwise be unable to make their home more energy efficient. It creates access and equity--very important values to all of us here at Green Homeowners United.
One homeowner we helped was a heavy smoker, paralyzed from the waist down, who lived on the near southside of Milwaukee. We were able to seal air leaks in her home that were making her uncomfortable, and realized a 68% reduction in air leakage (normal is 15-30% reduction) in her house.
7. Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
Knowing that every day, every hour of our work time, is spent trying to make the planet safer. Sometimes climate action feels overwhelming and academic, but every house we work on helps reduce carbon emissions.
8. What impact do you hope to have?
In the short term, our goal is to reduce carbon emissions with each home we upgrade. In the longer term, we want to educate people about the Inflation Reduction Act, train industry professionals and organizers about the kind of work we do--why and how to help people find the resources to take immediate action to reduce their carbon emissions.
We also want to show it is possible to have family-supporting green jobs. We're a union shop, follow federal prevailing wage standards, and offer training and advancement opportunities to our employees.
9. What does a healthy life mean to you?
The right to have a home that is comfortable and affordable. It's heartbreaking to see people who go without what they need because their home and utility costs are so high. What they do pay goes directly into burning more fossil fuel, making the problem worse every year as weather becomes more extreme. This isn't healthy for individuals or our world community. It's about equity in all areas of life.
10. If you could change one thing in our healthcare system to mitigate the impacts of climate change on public health, what would it be and why?
Recognize that it is in everyone's interest for big hospital systems to directly pay for the improvements in homes that prevent health issues exacerbated by climate change. We're facing a future with more extreme weather events, asthma triggers, allergies, heat stroke, and hospital systems can and should be funding home improvements and repairs. Our work also helps prevent pests and contaminants from entering the home, and home repairs can help reduce fall risks. There are so many health factors for folks living in homes in disrepair. Many people have extreme energy burdens because their home is so inefficient, and people choose between paying their utility and medical bills, so they go without medical care.