The Corps Network News, October 2007

Two Birds, One Stone:
Civic Justice Corps Engage in Green Building

The Civic Justice Corps (CJC) is an innovative strategy for reengaging court-involved and formerly incarcerated youth and young adults, but the service completed by CJC Corpsmembers is also an innovative strategy for impacting other problems such as climate change and high energy bills facing low-income home owners. Whether it be building new low-income homes and buildings or retrofitting existing homes, members of the Civic Justice Corps are ”greening” and revitalizing neighborhoods across the country.

Green home construction is one of the most common service projects for Civic Justice Corps sites. American Youth Works in Austin, TX, Operation Fresh Start in Madison, WI, and Lowcountry Civic Justice Corps in Charleston, SC, all complete service projects with some aspect of green home construction.

American Youth Works operates the Casa Verde program, teaching Corpsmembers how to construct a green home from start to finish and understand the importance of green building. Construction materials, such as Energy STAR rated fixtures, are environmentally friendly. American Youth Works construction projects win various awards including the Points of Light Foundation Presidential Service Award, Texas Society of Architects Citation of Honor, and U.S. Department of Commerce HUD Best Practices Award.

Operation Fresh Start (OFS) builds energy efficient housing that meets or exceeds Wisconsin Energy standards. Specifically, OFS focuses on using high-quality insulation measures to help home owners save on energy bills in the winter, and installing energy efficient appliances and lighting systems to help residents save year-round. OFS homes are on average 25 percent more efficient than homes built to tough Wisconsin building codes. This is particularly important as OFS focuses on revitalizing dilapidated, and often low-income neighborhoods.

The Lowcountry Civic Justice Corps trains Corpsmembers in green construction with a special emphasis on framing. Corpsmembers have framed homes using SIPs (Structured Insulated Panels), providing a stronger structure and reducing the size of the heating and cooling unit needed in the home. Recently, all of the Lowcountry CJC Corpsmembers attended a green building and sustainable renovation introduction course, a great learning experience and resume builder.

Civic Justice Corps, and Corps in general, are also benefiting their community through the retrofitting of existing homes to be more energy efficient. The Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC), in Denver, CO, completes various energy efficiency and weatherization-type projects. Through the Home Energy Conservation Project and the Home Water Conservation Program, MHYC youth are providing Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) clients with energy and water savings measures that are making a big impact on their utility bills. In total, MHYC has serviced more than 1,100 homes, installing about 15,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs, more than 300 high-efficiency toilets, and completing various other energy efficiency projects. MHYC predicts residents should save about $150,000 annually or nearly $750,000 over the life cycle of efficiency measures.

Retrofitting existing homes to be more energy efficient benefits home owners, but gives Corpsmembers an advantage when seeking jobs in this high-growth industry. For example, Corpsmembers at WSOS Quilter Civilian Conservation Corps partner with their local weatherization office. Corpsmembers receive certification in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems) and green construction techniques during their time at the Corps. After completing their term of service, Corpsmembers are often hired as a permanent weatherization crew member. The WSOS Quilter CC also operates a multi-county recycled materials recovery facility and a sign shop producing signage from recycled plastic.

The impact of these green construction and retrofitting projects has an enormous impact for homeowners and community members who are typically living below the poverty line and greatly benefit from reduced energy costs. Factors contributing to climate change must be addressed at the local level. Corpsmembers receive valuable skills and become reinvested in their communities through service. Overall, these service projects of the Civic Justice Corps take two challenges, and find one great solution.

Other Civic Justice Corps completing environmentally related projects:

EOC/ Fresno Local Conservation Corps, Fresno, CA
The Fresno Local Conservation Corps is in the process of building a new facility with Corpsmembers involved in some of the construction. Many green features will be part of this building such as: receiving direct daylight from the exterior and the entire facility with Low E glass and low SHGC & high natural light transmittance; high energy efficiency mechanical system; carpet made of 100 percent recycled content and other materials made of recycled content; and various water efficient appliances.

Earth Conservation Corps, Washington, DC
The Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) is focused on environmental service with a primary objective of restoring the heavily polluted Anacostia River. They complete various environmental service projects including tree planting, restoring and planting wetlands, removing trash and debris from the river, removing invasive plant species, trail construction and maintenance, and various storm water control and Low Impact Development projects. ECC also completed the green deconstruction of a home on North Portal Street in Washington, DC. Most of the original building materials were harvested and provided to Habitat for Humanity to build homes for low-income families in the area.

Sacramento Local Conservation Corps, Sacramento, CA
The Sacramento Local Conservation Corps is in the early planning stages for a state-of-the-art recycling sorting facility that will include "green" elements such as sky lights, energy efficient interior lighting, no-VOC (volatile organic compound) indoor paint, and a sewer line tie-in (as opposed to draining into the storm drains/watershed). The education and administrative building will be a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. Features will include use of exterior lighting to supplant interior light needs, fabrics, textures and materials for interior air quality, HVAC meeting LEED standards and all high-efficiency Energy Star appliances, as well as other details and features.