Enabling Catalytic Investments at the Intersection of Housing, Climate, and Health
Sustento Initiative is participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy to Communities (E2C) Expert Match program, which is designed to provide no-cost, short-term technical assistance to address near-term energy challenges and goals. E2C Expert Match is funded by DOE and managed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).
Over 2-3 months, Sustento Initiative will receive support from subject matter experts on building energy modeling to leverage existing ResStock data and heat strain modeling to assess high temperature risks and thermal comfort for residents in Los Angeles multifamily buildings.
ResStock is a U.S. Department of Energy model of the residential building stock, developed and maintained by NLR. Subject matter experts at NLR will also develop resources for Sustento Initiative and their partner organizations to leverage ResStock data to support public health analysis questions.
“We know that extreme heat is dangerous, and we know that the location and quality of housing are major Social Determinants of Health -- but from a traditional investment perspective, housing and health are treated as separate issues,” said David Hodgins, Founder of Sustento Initiative. “What we learn through this collaboration will help us develop investable metrics that can enable catalytic investments at the intersection of housing and health.”
Specifically, participation in this program will support Sustento Initiative with mapping heat-related risks across the Los Angeles’ building stock and will support their efforts to improve access to cooling for low-income residents in multifamily buildings.
"People intuitively understand that extreme heat, cold, and poor indoor air quality affect health. But without quantified, visible evidence of these impacts, investment in solutions relies on mandates rather than informed choice. This collaboration moves us closer to the data-driven decision-making and strategic resource allocation the field needs," notes Adam Meier, VP, Housing Sustainability at Housing Partnership Network.
This work builds on Sustento’s ongoing collaboration with the UCLA Master of Quantitative Economics Program, and a new collaboration with the UCLA Ziman Center’s Housing as Healthcare Initiative.
Jessica Jacobs, Director of Experiential Learning for UCLA’s Master of Quantitative Economics program shared, “the MQE program emphasizes connecting classroom learning with real-world application, and collaborations like this one with Sustento Initiative give students the opportunity to apply their analytical and economic training to develop data-driven solutions — especially through meaningful, community-focused projects that address critical issues such as energy equity and sustainability."
“The UCLA Ziman Center’s Housing as Health Care Initiative is proud to support Sustento in their efforts to quantify the health benefits of improving the built environment and elevate our collective understanding of how to adapt to our changing climate, specifically rising temperatures,” says Christina Green, Program Director for the Housing as Health Care Initiative at the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate.
"As housers, we see firsthand how extreme heat, cold, and poor indoor air quality take a toll on tenant health and well-being — and how these conditions are too often overlooked or deprioritized, especially in affordable housing. This collaboration helps build the case for prevention and directs investment toward proven solutions that serve the communities who need them most," says Michael Claproth, Associate Director of Sustainable Connected Communities for Enterprise Community Partners’ Southern California office.
About participating organizations
Sustento Initiative is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to advancing the field of systemic community investment through project-driven applied research and stakeholder education. www.sustento.co
The UCLA Master’s in Quantitative Economics Program unites a global community of students, scholars, and industry leaders committed to leveraging data science, finance, and economics to address society’s greatest challenges.
The UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate's "Housing as Health Care Initiative" seeks to raise awareness about issues related to the intersection between housing and health care sectors.
Housing Partnership Network (HPN) is an award-winning business collaborative of 100+ of the nation’s leading housing and community development organizations.
Enterprise Community Partners is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing housing supply, advancing racial equity and building resilience.