Photo by John Weymer
A GROUP OF VISITORS FROM THE ANNUAL NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HOUSING COUNCIL CONVENTION AT THE PUYALLUP TRIBE’S ELDER HEALTHY HOME.
The Puyallup Tribe’s Elder Healthy Home – an environmentally conscious, efficient and healthy housing unit that has been in the works for the past year – received attention from 100 visitors from across the nation May 13.
As part of the annual National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) convention and trade show in Seattle May 12-14, participants were able to take a trip south to check out the green, elder-friendly abode – a concept that is virtually unheard of in many tribal communities nationwide.
“This project definitely interested me,” said Clarice Dial, who attended the convention from North Carolina. She, along with many other tribal members and tribal housing employees, went on the optional field trip to gain insight to take back home.
Elder Healthy Home project designers had no idea the home would gather so many interested parties from the convention.
Two full busloads of travelers signed up because they felt the project was interesting and innovative. Many would like to recreate a similar housing development in their own communities.
Visitors took note of features such as under-floor heating, fiberglass windows, non-toxic building materials and efficient design.
“It has a very unique system,” Clarice Dial commented.
Ann Brudno, director of design for the project from environmental housing firm Ecofab, noted that it was hard to get people back on the buses after they toured the home.
“They had so many specific questions,” she said.
Because the visitors were from diverse climates, such as North Carolina and Alaska, their specific energy needs were very different, yet the Elder Healthy Home still provides a model for both heating and cooling needs.
Kevin Laycock, director of operations at Ecofab, suggested something as simple as extending the roof overhang in a warmer climate to keep a cooler home.
Dan Moreno, vice chair of the housing commission in Sitka, Alaska, said things like that are the reasons he travels to NAIHC conventions.
“We are always looking at what other facilities are doing and make sure we are picking up new ideas,” he said. He noted the siding and drain systems of the Elder Healthy Home were of particular interest to him.
Greg Combs, project manager for the Puyallup Tribe’s Housing Authority, was shocked by the level of interest in the home.
“A lot more people signed up (to tour) than anyone ever imagined,” he said. “Since the Puyallup Tribe is one of the first tribes across the country to do this…there’s a hell of an interest in this kind of building.”
NAIHC is the only national organization representing housing interests of tribes and housing entities across the United States. NAIHC currently has 267 voting members, representing 458 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. NAIHC promotes, supports and upholds tribes and tribal housing agencies in their efforts to provide culturally relevant, decent, safe, sanitary and quality affordable housing for Native people in American Indian communities and Alaska Native villages.
