CEO Message
 On
behalf of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing
Authority (CMHA), welcome to our Sustainability
web pages. In these
pages, we will share with you two major projects
that CMHA has undertaken that support the ideals
of sustainability.
First, CMHA has completed the second year of its 12-year
Energy Performance (EPC) Contract with Siemens
Building Technologies. The EPC supports CMHA's mission
to provide our residents with quality affordable
housing options. Under the EPC, we were able
to upgrade and replace existing plumbing fixtures,
windows, roofs, lighting, and heating and cooling
systems with new state-of-the-art water conserving
and energy efficient equipment.
The EPC scope and details are contained in these pages. We are now
in the process of verifying the first full
year of savings. Early results are very encouraging
as we have seen a dramatic reduction in water
and energy consumption at many of our properties.
Second, we are exploring other ways in which our organization can
reduce its environmental footprint. We realize
that if we employ the tenets of sustainability
which are: recycle, reuse, reduce, respect,
and rethink in both our internal and external
business, we will transform CMHA into a truly
sustainable organization.
To that end, in 2008 CMHA started a paper recycling initiative. It
began with our administrative offices and was
later introduced to our residents. This initiative
has been very successful. Since its inception our
residents and employees have diverted 100
tons of paper from the landfill. In 2009, we
expanded
our recycling of other office materials and
residential household waste. We will keep you
updated as we move forward.
CMHA will continue to think strategically about
sustainability and to search for additional opportunities to reduce our
consumption of energy and natural resources. It is crucial that we do
so in today's environment of shrinking natural resources and soaring
energy costs. We must never forget that a sustainable future is in all
of our hands.
George Phillips-Olivier
CEO |