Working on Green Homes, you find yourself involved in focusing on energy, health, water, materials and site/community impact but what about accessibility? Did you know that 20% growing number of American’s cannot access the current housing stock based on special needs? The question we ask at the Institute is, is a home truly green if it is not accessible? Have we ignored the social sustainability leg of triple bottom line if we do not build, design and remodel to meet basic accessibility needs?

Because ADA only applies to commercial and not residential buildings, we are excited to partner with Disability Advocates of Kent County to kick start the national re-launch of the ZeroStep Home Accessibility certification and guidance tool for new and existing homes. The purpose of the ZeroStep program is to provide consumers and professionals with tools, resources and guidance criteria on universal design, aging in place and assistive technologies available. This not only adds functionality to a home, it can also help make it a much more pleasant place to live. A  ZeroStep plan should be so attractive that you don’t even realize it’s a ZeroStep home – it’s simply a home that everyone would want.