The E.H.Zero Initiative is a collaboration between the Michigan Green Building Collaborative, the City of Grand Rapids, and the Urban Core Collective. Our mission? To create equitable, healthy, and zero-carbon buildings across Grand Rapids.
Through partnerships, community engagement, and policy creation, E.H.Zero is working to ensure our built environment is not only sustainable but also inclusive—giving priority to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities who have been disproportionately impacted by climate change.
E.H.Zero builds on the Zero Cities Project, which highlighted the unequal carbon emissions in Grand Rapids and its impact on marginalized communities. Now, we’re taking that research and turning it into actionable programs and policies that empower communities and promote equity-focused decarbonization.
We’re working to engage BIPOC communities and commercial building stakeholders in the journey toward decarbonization.
Educate at least 750 residents (with 500 BIPOC) and 500 commercial stakeholders on decarbonization.
Host events that show how these changes benefit both commercial building owners and local residents.
Share successes with other cities to inspire broader change.
We’re crafting equitable building decarbonization policies rooted in community input and technical analysis.
Complete a building carbon emissions inventory and climate vulnerability assessment to inform policy.
Develop policies that put equity at the forefront through community engagement.
Create an implementation plan for building decarbonization policies to be taken to the City Commission for approval.
We’re focusing on creating affordable and healthy housing that benefits BIPOC communities.
Partner with a community housing organization to provide resources on housing retrofits and neighborhood equity initiatives.
Pilot retrofits for five diverse residential spaces, measuring outcomes in health, finance, energy, and carbon.
Identify how to consolidate and educate on available housing resources for residents to retrofit their existing housing, the best way to produce neighborhood equity through slowing gentrification and promote BIPOC wealth generation.
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