Healthy Homes Calgary

News

Healthy Homes Calgary has just been nominated as a finalist for a 2010 Alberta Emerald Award for environmental excellence in the Not-for-Profit category. The winner will be announced on June 10th, 2010 at a ceremony held in Calgary.

Program Highlights

Healthy Homes Calgary aims to improve personal health, build community resilience, and reduce pressure on the natural environment. These objectives are achieved by working with families directly in the home, providing accessible, easy-to-use information, as well as the resources and tools necessary to create positive and lasting change.

The holistic approach, which covers energy and water conservation, chemical use and indoor air quality, waste reduction, sustainable food choices and mindful purchasing, allows the Healthy Homes Calgary staff and volunteers to engage Calgarians in a deep and meaningful way.

The Process

The Healthy Homes Calgary program is delivered over two (2) visits, spaced approximately 3 months apart.

Home Visit One (2 hours)

The first home visit establishes a baseline from which we build. Utility bills are reviewed and a room-by-room walk through is conducted to identify areas where improvements could be made. Topics covered in the initial visit include energy and water use, waste reduction, recycling and composting, and chemical use and indoor air quality.

By the end of process a list of recommendations are compiled. These are prioritized based on their impact and the needs of the participant, and supported with a wide-range of practical tips and resources to support the recommended changes. Green Calgary (www.greencalgary.org) and its award-winning programs offer additional support for those needing further assistance.

Home Visit Two (1.5 hours)

In three (3) months time, a follow up visit is conducted to provide further support in completing the shift toward a more sustainable lifestyle. The second visit, in addition to addressing any barriers or challenges the participant may have encountered, offers an opportunity to take the sustainability discussion to a “deeper” level. A series of short videos is sent out for viewing prior to second visit, addressing such issues as overconsumption and role of the “consumer” in creating positive change, and how our food choices impact the world around us. Tips and resources are provided to help Calgarians eat more mindfully, covering such topics as:

What is organic and why it is important?
Is organic always the best?
Local and seasonal eating.
Eating clean, healthy and fair food on a budget.

Throughout the Healthy Home process there is a strong emphasis on making connections between actions taken in the home and how they impact the larger community of life. Though largely self evident, these connections serve to remind us that our personal health and wellbeing is not separate from the natural world. Having this presence of mind enables us to be more thoughtful and deliberate in our actions.

What’s Included with the Visit?

First and foremost, the Healthy Homes Calgary program is about taking a journey toward a more sustainable and fulfilling life. Most of us understand the current predicament humanity is facing and we need solutions. Luckily, there is not a lack of solutions, only a lack of imagination.

While some of the solutions covered in the home visits are quick fixes – installing low flow shower heads and tap aerators, changing to energy efficient lighting, composting, etc. – many require a deeper understanding of our current situation and how we got here. These solutions come by way of questioning our current reality/systems and shifting our consciousness to better reflect the changes that need to occur.

For those interested in traveling down this road and wanting to make real, meaningful change, Healthy Homes Calgary is there to help.

What Does the Program Cost?

Healthy Homes Calgary is free of charge but supported by donations from people like you. Donate $25, $50, $100, or $200, so we can continue offering this program into the future, thus bettering the quality of life for all Calgarians.

How to get involved

If you are interested in creating a healthy home, please complete the on-line application form below. You will then be contacted by a member of the Healthy Homes Calgary Team. Green Calgary respects people's personal information and will use it only for the purpose of carrying out the program.

If you do not have access to e-mail, please call [403] 230 1443 ext 223.

Video

Cindy Fitz shares her experience in the Healthy Homes program.