Daily Local News
Posted on Tue, May 29, 2007

Efficient, accessible living
By Heather Simons

PARKESBURG — In the 1980s, Dennis Crook, president of Heartswork Construction, was busy building the first energy-efficient housing development in Philadelphia.

When a friend asked him to redesign a two-story home for the family of a 12-year-old boy recently paralyzed by a gunshot wound, Crook began to research the customization of homes for the disabled.
Crook and his wife, Siti, were appalled by what they found.

”In those days, back in the ‘80s, there wasn‘t a lot around for the disabled,“ Siti Crook said.
They said they found their research ”disheartening.“ Many disabled people were forced to ”crawl into their bathrooms“ because these rooms were not wheelchair accessible, and many homeowners were unable to afford the high cost of handicap modifications.

With his expertise in energy efficiency and his new-found knowledge of disability design, Dennis Crook oversaw the construction of a low-cost, environmentally conscious duplex at nearly the same price it costs to build a regular home. Crook dubbed his brand of energy-saving design Ecobuilt.
The Crooks insist that an energy-efficient, handicapped-accessible home is only 5 to 8 percent more expensive to build than a regular home, ”if you know what you‘re doing.“

With a monthly rent of $1,250 plus utilities, the duplex in Parkesburg is specifically designed for disadvantaged families with disabled individuals because its Ecobuilt features save hundreds of dollars a month on energy bills.

Dennis Crook refers to his construction as ”universal design across the lifespan“ because it caters to all disabled people, young and old. ”They‘re cradle-to-grave type of products,“ he said, and the Crooks have the home to prove it.'

Siti Crook struggled for years with debilitating spinal problems and still fears that she may one day end up in a wheelchair.

In response, Dennis Crook built an energy-efficient, wheelchair-accessible home for his family to prevent a future need for a nursing home. The Crooks said they have the experience to understand the struggles and difficulties disabled people face and the compassion and expertise to make a difference in the lives of others.

At 1,416 square feet, each home in the duplex is spacious, with an open living room and kitchen with ample cabinet space. Each home holds three bedrooms, with large, easy-to-access closets, a laundry room with washer and dryer hookups, and two full bathrooms.

The bathrooms have a 5-foot turnaround area, making it easy for a wheelchair to maneuver close to a specially designed 18-inch toilet seat.

Getting into and out of the marble showers is hassle-free as well, because there is no lip to roll over.
Hallways are 4 feet wide, allowing for the passage of a wheelchair without elbows banging or wheel rims scraping the walls.

All doors are 3 feet wide and open with levers instead of knobs. Sound barriers separate the home, cancelling out noise from one to the other. Outside is a grassy backyard, and each home has its own garden plot.

Dennis and Siti Crook said they are eager to provide the ideal space for someone in need.
”We did it to contribute to others,“ Siti Crook said, ”to let them know that there‘s someone out there who honors and respects their struggles. It‘s hard enough to live in this world as it is, let alone with a disability.“
Expanding on their philosophy, Siti Crook cited the movie ”Pay It Forward“ and the idea of contributing to the community in the hope of inspiring future acts of compassion. "It‘s a way of giving back,“ said Dennis Crook.

Dennis Crook‘s book, ”Stop Heating the Neighborhood: Save Energy, Save Money, Save the Environment,“ is to be published this August and will be released on the Web for download and in CD format. He said the book explains in ”consumer language“ detailed ways to build a more energy-efficient home.