The Philadelphia Energy Authority provides low-income Philadelphians home repair services (500 homes each year) with the goal of reducing the energy costs of each home through the Built to Last Program. PRCCEH designed a process to conduct tailored environmental health consultations  with homeowners getting their home repaired. Consultations provide health related information, connection to community resources and water/soil testing for lead to participating families. PRCCEH also trained BTL inspectors on the health risks of poor housing conditions. 

Forty-five families had environmental health consultations completed thus far. 

• 40% had leaking pipes and 66% had a leaking roof
• 15% had intact asbestos on their pipes
• 18% had mold

• More than half of homes were built before 1978 so families were at risk for lead exposure
• 51% had someone in the home with asthma and 57% had allergies

Stories from the Environmental Health Consultations include: 

• 29 families participated in an evaluation of our consultation. 51% of these families say their health has improved with less allergies, lower lead exposure, reduced or no asthma flares and lower lead levels. 
• One homeowner had her soil tested at 4,162 ppm.  Anything above 100 ppm poses a risk to human health. This homeowner was counseled to limit her exposure to the soil, to not garden in the soil and cover any bare ground with grass. This particular homeowner did not have any children living on the property. 
• After the Built to Last improvements and the Environmental Health Consultation, one homeowner reported being “physically and mentally better”. There is no moldy smell from the roof leak anymore and her asthma is better. Before she couldn’t sleep, was stressed and worried about affording the house and it was stressful for her and her husband. Now everything is smoother with the home improvements.
• Homeowner reported her asthma and her children’s asthma have been so much better with no flares this past year. 
• One homeowner’s daughter hasn’t been to ER for an asthma attack since the work was completed a year ago.

Feedback from residents:

“Helpful to talk through the EH related issues and have time to ask questions”

“You took the time to explain to me the risks of asbestos and how we are fine with it being intact”

“I had the space to talk away and found it helpful to get an understanding of what was going on in my home”