ASSISTANT SECRETARY BERNARDI PARTICIPATES IN A TOUR OF TAKOMA VILLAGE CO-HOUSING
Celebrating "Earth Day," HUD visits TVC an energy efficient site
![[Photo: Assistant Secretary Bernardi visiting Takoma Village Co-housing.]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081105105333im_/http://www.hud.gov/images/earthday2003.jpg) |
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Secretary Bernardi today visited Takoma Village
Co-housing (TVC) where he participated in a discussion with the residents and
a guided tour led by Sandra Leibowitz a resident who was involved in the design
of this development. Special emphasis was put on the methods used to build the
Coop as well as the technologies employed to conserve energy efficiency and
achieve sustainability.
"On this important day, "Earth Day" we see an example of energy efficiency and
sustainability in Takoma Village Co-housing," said Bernardi. "Through HUD's PATH
program we offer technology resources to assist builders in developing housing
that is affordable, energy efficient, durable and environmentally friendly."
Takoma Village Co-housing was a demonstration project of Partnership for Advancing
Technology and Housing (PATH). PATH is a partnership that is administered by
HUD. PATH helped to integrate selected technologies into the design; to measure
the cost of incorporating the technologies; to evaluate how well technologies
are accepted by builders, construction trade groups, and homeowners; and to
measure the technologies' performance. PATH developed a Builder Option Package
with Energy Star specifically geared for Takoma Village, performed energy analyses
and post-construction diagnostic testing to qualify the project under EPA's
Energy Star Homes.
Takoma Village has garnered much attention for being DC's first co-housing project,
but the building itself also speaks to more mainstream values; it clearly illustrates
the role of affordable, energy efficient, infill construction as a catalyst
for neighborhood renewal. Unlike most multi-family housing developments, where
the eventual occupants have little or no say in the design process, a large
percentage of Takoma Village property owners were on board from day one. Since
it's ribbon cutting, Takoma Village has been showing other area builders and
developers how sustainable, green buildings serve as a real asset.
"In the three decades since the first Earth Day celebration, our air is cleaner,
our water is purer, and our natural resources are better protected. We have
learned from our successes and are putting that experience to work at the Federal,
state and local government level. Additionally, all Americans can help protect
our natural resources by being good stewards of our air, water, and land," said
President Bush.
HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly
among minorities, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans,
supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living
with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as
well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD
and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov.
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