Design for Health
Design and building professionals: you’re on call. Health is not just about the doctors and nurses; interior spaces, buildings, and communities have far-reaching impacts on wellness. Design choices can:
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help prevent mold and moisture issues
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provide fresh air
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ensure access to clean drinking water
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prevent exposure to toxic chemicals
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encourage fitness
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support healthy circadian rhythms
Too often, though, our buildings do the opposite. These articles lay out best practices for health-focused design, based on sound scientific research.
Design for Health
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Five Ways Project Teams Are Using HPDs
Feature Short
An architect, a specifier, and a building owner walk into a bar. Then they talk about how ingredient transparency informs their work.
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In Search of High-Quality Hazard Data: HPDs Have Promise, but Most Aren’t Helpful Yet
Feature Short
HPD version 1.0’s promise of greater material transparency didn’t always deliver, but version 2.0 should provide accurate reporting.
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Dances with Hazards: How Real Experts Pull Human Health into Design
Feature Short
John and Catherine prove that designers can work successfully with HPDs, especially if they have a toxicology consultant to support their multi-faceted selection process.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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UN: Manufacturers Turn Blind Eye to Hazardous Chemicals At Their Peril
News Brief
Knowing the chemical ingredients in a product’s supply chain just makes good business sense, according to a United Nations report.
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AIA Prioritizes Resilient Design, Product Transparency
News Analysis
New statements on resilience and healthy materials expand the AIA’s environmental advocacy.
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Harmful Chemicals May Leach from PEX into Drinking Water
News Analysis
Replacing PVC with untested substitutes? New research shows how little we understand about how plumbing materials affect indoor water quality.
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California Questions Whether Low VOCs Make Artificial Turf Safe
News Brief
Smell no evil, see no evil: low counts of toxic fumes have been used to argue turf fields with crumb rubber are safe, but a new bill calls for more study.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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