An Initiative by Bill Robinson/Train2Build
& The Lower 9th Ward Village
What
A project in the Lower 9th Ward to begin weatherizing 50 houses during the first quarter of 2010.
Why
Home weatherization has recently come to the forefront
in the national dialogue, brought about by the federal focus on stimulating the
economy by creating green jobs. The increased awareness, jobs creation and
workforce training will go toward improving the economy. The most recent
tag for this stimulus is Cash for Caulkers. The buzz words will change over
time, the opportunity will remain for much longer.
The 50 Houses initiative will help to kick start local
participation and awareness (Ninth Ward) of how home weatherization will bring
local benefit.
The benefits are:
1.
A reduction in energy usage
2. Increased comfort in the home
3. A more durable home and long-lasting home
4. Job training
5. An entry path for working in the weatherization and green
economies.
One expected outcome will be to prepare local youth
for the emerging green workforce.
How
The initial concept of 50 Houses is to weather strip
two doors in each house and seal air leaks with five tubes of caulk.
Most homes have two doors and they often leak around the
perimeter. A simple weather strip around the perimeter will reduce the air
leakage significantly. Consider a door 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide with a 1/16”
gap at the sides and top. That equates to a hole nearly 13 square inches.
The 5 tubes of caulk mentioned above is an arbitrary number
based on donations. There is a reasonable possibility more materials will be
available including spray foam for larger air gaps, gasket covers for outlets
and switches and more. The more is dependant on the interest of other
manufacturers and suppliers.
The homes selected must: 1)
be locally owned or owner occupied, and 2) not be for sale.
Who
Local youth and residents will do the work. A target home
will have in initial assessment for need, safety and availability. There will
be training sessions primarily conducted at the Village to prepare the
weatherizers to do the work. Bill Robinson is the project leader and will
direct the training and work on site. Home selection and volunteer placement
will be by local Ninth Ward organizations.
Next Steps
1. Identify 50 prospective houses and schedule the work.
2. Enlist local youth or residents to do the work.
2. Schedule training and work days.
Projected first day of training Jan 23.
Tentative weekly training and workdays on subsequent Saturdays.
To volunteer your time or your home call 805.797.4127 or email bill@train2build.com.
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