Welcome to HomeFree
A national initiative supporting affordable housing leaders who are improving human health by using less toxic building materials.
Latest News
Transparency Report - Leaders and Laggards
Materials transparency is foundational to improving the health and safety of building materials. Last year, we wrote about the growth we’ve seen in the past decade in the amount and quality of data that’s available. This year we looked a little closer, and it’s clear that some product categories are...
Read MoreLow- and No-Cost Ways to Start Using Safer Materials
It can feel daunting to know where to start prioritizing material health in your work. You may feel like you don’t have the time or budget to select materials that are free of hazardous chemicals. Fortunately, there are some relatively simple, low- or no-cost ways to start incorporating healthier materials...
Read MoreHealth is at the Center of Harvard’s New Engineering Complex
Earlier this year, Harvard University dedicated its new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), a model for green building and the largest project and first research laboratory to achieve the ILFI's Living Building Challenge Petal Certification. We sat down with Harvard's Chief Sustainability Officer Heather Henriksen to learn more about the...
Read MoreOur Plastic Buildings - the New Driver of Fossil Fuel Demand
The idea of a “plastic building” might bring to mind Barbie DreamHouses or Lego towers, but probably not the real life spaces we occupy every day. However, plastics have a long history of use in construction and are increasingly being used in a wide variety of building products.
Read MoreIf you find this work valuable, consider making a donation to Healthy Building Network
DonateFeatured User
Rebecca Schaaf
Senior Vice President, Energy, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Becky leads two initiatives at SAHF – the Big Reach, SAHF’s goal with its members to reduce portfolio-wide energy and water use by 20% by 2020, and Bringing Sustainability Home, an energy and health initiative that aims to ensure low-income residents and communities have equal access to critical environmental and health benefits. Prior to joining SAHF, Becky worked as a Program Officer for CHF International and served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, where she taught mathematics. She holds a B.A. in Economics from New College of Florida and a Master's degree in Community Planning from the University of Maryland.