Pruning chemicals from the green building landscape.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Building Science
• Sustainable Architecture

Background:

• Green building design prioritizes energy efficiency, reducing environmental impact compared to traditional structures.
• A significant gap exists where energy-efficient green buildings may still utilize materials hazardous to occupant health.
• The architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry shows increasing interest in occupant health and well-being, driven by scientific findings on chemical exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the discrepancy between energy efficiency and occupant health in green buildings.
• To explore opportunities for translating environmental health research into practical applications for the AEC industry.
• To identify how building certifications, codes, and markets can integrate energy performance with chemical exposure mitigation.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on chemical exposures and health effects from building materials.
• Analysis of current green building certification systems and government building codes.
• Identification of research opportunities to prioritize building material and chemical combinations.

Main Results:

• Green buildings often achieve high energy efficiency but may compromise indoor environmental quality due to material choices.
• Numerous studies link chemicals in building materials to adverse health outcomes.
• There is a clear need for research to guide the AEC industry in selecting materials that support both energy performance and occupant health.

Conclusions:

• Holistic sustainability in buildings requires addressing both energy consumption and the health impacts of materials.
• Translating environmental health research for the AEC industry is crucial for creating healthier built environments.
• Collaboration between researchers and AEC professionals can drive the adoption of healthier building practices.