HOUSING RESEARCH

Innova has consulted on several research studies to discern the impact of market forces on the supply, redevelopment, and preservation of affordable housing.   Our research includes:

Space Conditioning and Ventilation Strategies Test Plan, K. Ueno, J. Lstiburek, Building Science Corporation. May 2011. Innova is a designated “Industry Partner” for the The US Department of Energy, Building America Project “Energy Efficient Housing Research Partnerships” project, working with DOE’s prime consultant, Building Science Corporation, to develop airtight construction techniques in connection with controlled mechanical ventilation in multi-family construction

www.innovanimations.com.  Innova is consultant to the Energy Coordinating Agency and the Weatherization Training Center at the Penn College of Technology for the US Department of Energy National Weatherization Training Platform (NWTP).  Innova is producing training animations to demonstrate the building physics of air, energy and moisture transport in buildings.

Innova researchers were hired to help align the City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to develop mechanisms for integrating Weatherization stimulus funding and PA Act 129 utility conservation services, and to advise on the creation of a workforce development programs involving building trade unions. (Completed in 2010). Philadelphia Task Force on Weatherization and the Workforce

PA Department of Labor and Industry, Weatherization Apprenticeship Program Model.  Innova is the sub-consultant to the prime consultant, Philadelphia Area Labor Management Committee.  Innova provides industry ‘content knowledge’ for the development of union apprenticeship curricula for the establishment of a weatherization craft for multi-family retrofits.

Innova principals also served as research advisors to two 2008 affordable housing studies commissioned by the William Penn Foundation: Effectively Preserving Philadelphia's Workforce Housing Stock; and; A Strategic Approach to Building Affordable Housing in Philadelphia.   The former study makes recommendation for ways to preserve workforce housing stock, while the latter argues for the targeted redevelopment of existing properties, using attractive and energy efficient design, in neighborhoods where other public investments are occurring to produce sustainable mixed income neighborhoods.   The studies were conducted by a team of researchers from Econsult, The Reinvestment Fund, the National Housing Institute, and May8 Consulting.

As a follow-on to this study, Innova was engaged by WCRP through a William Penn Foundation grant to develop a model for how the City’s home repair and weatherization programs can be coordinated to establish a neighborhood-focused housing preservation strategy. Integrating BSRP and WAP - Analysis and Recommendations

Affordable Housing Management and Preservation Initiative (2006).  Innova researchers examined the methods of property management and the costs and income associated with the operation of affordable housing developments to discern ways to improve the long-term economic viability of tax credit financed affordable housing.  Commissioned by Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) with support by the William Penn Foundation.

Expanding Capacity and Speeding Production in the Basic Systems Repair Program (2005). Innova researchers studied the delivery system used by the City of Philadelphia's Basic System Repair program and made recommendation on ways to increase the number of homes served by the program and speed up the delivery of those services.  Commissioned by Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) with support by the William Penn Foundation.

Innova principals served as volunteer advisors to the Nutter for Mayor Campaign and in an advisory capacity to the Mayor-elect's transition team for housing.  Innova principals authored a research and policy development paper on vacant property acquisition and disposition. Nutter for Mayor Vacant Property Subcommittee- Summary Recommendations.