The article discusses the dilemma of green retrofitting in homes and buildings, which contributes over a third of greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to install energy-efficient technologies are leading to 'green gentrification,' where landlords evict tenants under the guise of renovations to make way for higher-paying occupants. This trend raises alarms among housing advocates and tenant unions, highlighting the potential for exploitation through legal loopholes. Key examples from Los Angeles illustrate the impact of these practices, where renovation efforts can lead to tenant displacement and exacerbate housing insecurities in the push for environmental sustainability.
"Green retrofit work is beneficial-it makes homes healthier, more climate-resilient, and operationally less expensive. But when tenants don't have control over their housing... it can become a weapon."
"Landlords have long used renovation as a legal loophole to push out long-standing tenants. They also do it illegally through what we call 'construction as harassment'..."
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