Posts by Meena Morar — Fellow
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How difficult will it be to make buildings in DC more energy efficient? It depends on the building.
In December of 2018, the DC Council passed a bill setting a challenge for large buildings across the District to meet new energy code standards by 2026. The law prescribes two different paths: one for new construction and existing buildings performing at or above a median level of energy efficiency scores according to the federal government’s program; another for buildings below that median. Keep reading…
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To attract millennials, Loudoun County wants to build housing they can afford
As the demographics of people moving to the suburbs shifts, Loudoun County is attempting to create more housing options to address would-be residents’ unmet needs. While Loudoun has grown at a fast pace over the past few years, like many jurisdictions in the region it has an affordable housing crunch, and many young adults can’t afford to live in the area. Keep reading…
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These maps show how public housing was manipulated to segregate DC
Since it was created for white families during WWII, public housing has been used as a tool to segregate cities, and whites in power continued to use it for this purpose as more black residents moved in over the following decades. A map project from the historians at PrologueDC illustrates the ways public housing has been manipulated. Keep reading…
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How difficult will it be to make buildings in DC more energy efficient? It depends on the building.
In December of 2018, the DC Council passed a bill setting a challenge for large buildings across the District to meet new energy code standards by 2026. The law prescribes two different paths: one for new construction and existing buildings performing at or above a median level of energy efficiency scores according to the federal government’s program; another for buildings below that median. Keep reading…
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To attract millennials, Loudoun County wants to build housing they can afford
As the demographics of people moving to the suburbs shifts, Loudoun County is attempting to create more housing options to address would-be residents’ unmet needs. While Loudoun has grown at a fast pace over the past few years, like many jurisdictions in the region it has an affordable housing crunch, and many young adults can’t afford to live in the area. Keep reading…
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Indoor mold can be hazardous. DC tenants want help getting landlords to treat it.
Tenants across the District have expressed concern with the city’s inaction around mold in housing, which can spark or exacerbate a plethora of health issues. Amid unanswered reports and unaddressed mold complaints, eight professionals and community members testified at a joint public hearing on December 9 about the Indoor Mold Remediation Act of 2019, which aims to improve enforcement and remediation. Keep reading…
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Some DC tenants need to sue to get redress for mold. A new bill could change that.
If there’s mold in your rental home in DC, you may not get help without a fight. While landlords are supposed to get rid of mold when it’s spotted, some tenants have to take them to housing conditions court in order to get an inspection and treatment. Currently, city inspectors aren’t trained to spot mold and can’t fine landlords when they neglect to address it. Keep reading…
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This project aims to let residents guide how lower Georgia Avenue develops
A frequent complaint residents have about new development in their neighborhood is that things changed without their input. A new initiative called the Lower Georgia Avenue Equitable Development Project aims to let community members guide how their neighborhood will develop. Keep reading…
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These maps illustrate how public housing was manipulated to segregate DC
Since it was created for white families during WWII, public housing has been used as a tool to segregate cities, and whites in power continued to use it for this purpose as more black residents moved in over the following decades. A recent map project from the historians at PrologueDC illustrates the ways public housing has been manipulated. Keep reading…
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DC’s clean energy law requires buildings to become more efficient. How will they adapt?
Nine months ago, the DC Council passed one of the most ambitious clean energy laws in the country that mandates, among other things, that buildings become more energy efficient. Some experts and building owners are apprehensive about the task of adapting to the new regulations, but DC officials say they will facilitate the process. Keep reading…