NHS of New Haven's state-of-the-art Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Laboratory is the centerpiece of our post-purchase homebuyer education programming. With rising energy costs and limited disposable income, it has become critically important for home buyers, homeowners and tenants to avoid unnecessary expenses. The Lab serves as a hands-on training facility for residents to learn useful skills to maintain their homes and conserve energy. The Lab also incorporates an “Identifying Home Health Hazards” component into each of our classes.  The Health Hazards program is designed to address the myriad of preventable health risks that are present in the home.

In addition to offering hands-on classes in home repairs and energy conservation, the Lab serves as a green demonstration model. The building utilizes existing urban infrastructure and salvaged, reused, or repurposed materials from NHS rehabbed properties. It has been constructed as an energy-efficient structure, and we are pursuing LEED certification on the building.  Energy conservation techniques are taught to our clients through the demonstration exhibits.

The Lab is the first of its kind in Connecticut, and NHS of New Haven is the first affordable housing producer in New England to develop a green Home Improvement and Energy Conservation Laboratory.  NHS was awarded a Challenge Grant from the Kresge Foundation to support the construction and development of the Lab.