|
Sign up to receive our biweekly email with insights and analysis on building materials and environmental health.
Current Newsletter:
Finding Market Transformation in an Unexpected Place (April 24, 2012)
|
Times-Picayune
April 12, 2004
Greenpeace just building a healthy home
Re: "Habitat-Greenpeace mix causes chemical reaction: PVC makers accuse environmental group of abusing charity," Money, April 8.
Our organization provided the architect who specified the green materials for the Greenpeace Habitat home. This was not the first affordable housing project he improved, and it was no mere publicity stunt. It is but one example of how we can build affordable housing with less toxic materials.
Unfortunately by focusing on the heat of the controversy instigated by the Vinyl Institute complaints, your report missed an opportunity to shed some light on healthier building materials: non-toxic pressure-treated wood, durable cement-based siding, and paints and carpeting that produce no chemical fumes.
If you look at the Vinyl Institute Web site at www.vinylbydesign.org, you will always find a press release extolling their contributions to Habitat for Humanity as a means of promoting vinyl sales. This generosity commenced only in the mid 1990s, after the vinyl industry was accused of poisoning the poor Louisiana communities in which the industry has plants. Why its efforts should be applauded while our effort, which resulted in a decent home for a deserving family, should be criticized by anyone, is beyond me.
Bill Walsh
|
|
