title: Self-reported health outcomes associated with green-renovated public housing among primarily elderly residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the benefits of green renovation on self-reported health of primarily elderly residents of a low-income public housing apartment building.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using questions from the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey, we interviewed residents at baseline and 1 year after green renovation of their 101-unit building in Mankato, Minnesota, comparing self-reported mental and physical health outcomes of 2 sets of residents (all-ages: median, 66 years, n = 40; elder: median, 72 years, n = 22) with outcomes for 2 same-aged low-income Minnesota comparison groups taken from Medicare Health Outcomes Survey participants (n = 40 and 572, respectively).
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Mankato apartment building residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Green renovation including building envelope restoration; new heating, electrical, and ventilation systems; air sealing; new insulation and exterior cladding; window replacement; Energy-Star fixtures and appliances; asbestos and mold abatement; apartment gut retrofits; low volatile organic chemical and moisture-resistant materials; exercise enhancements; and indoor no-smoking policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported health status including Activities of Daily Living and Veteran's Rand 12 (VR-12) survey results; housing condition visual assessment; indoor environmental sampling; and building performance testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The all-ages study group's mental health improved significantly more than the comparison group's mental health on the basis of mean number of good mental health days in the past month (P = .026) and mean VR-12 mental component score (P = .023). Sixteen percent fewer all-ages study group people versus 8% more comparison group people reported falls (P = .055). The elder study group's 9% improvement in general physical health was not statistically significantly better than the elder comparison group's decline (6%) (P = 0.094). Significantly fewer people in the all-ages group reported smoke in their apartments because of tobacco products (20% vs 0%, P = .005), likely reflecting the new no-smoking policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Green healthy housing renovation may result in improved mental and general physical health, prevented falls, and reduced exposure to tobacco smoke.
authors: National Center for Healthy Housing, Columbia, Maryland (Ms Breysse and Drs Dixon and Jacobs); Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, Slayton (Mr Lopez); and University of Minnesota Center for Sustainable Building Research, College of Design, Minneapolis (Mr Weber).
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Breysse
authors: Sherry L
authors: SL
authors: Dixon
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Jacobs
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Lopez
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Weber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011638:Public Housing / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires