Green Healthcare Institutions Health, Environment, and Economics: Workshop Summary (2007) / Chapter Skim
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4 The Health Aspects of Green Buildings
4 The Health Aspects of Green Buildings
Pages 28-37
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From page 28... ...
However, many indoor air quality studies are not designed to address these complexities, thus contributing to the conflicting information that is often found in the scientific literature. To better understand the health impacts of indoor environments, new statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis, which consider multiple variables simultaneously, are necessary, said Schettler.
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From page 29... ...
The following types of chemical compounds are found in indoor air: • Volatile organic compounds, which may be emitted from building materials and fabrics, new furniture, cleaning materials, vinyl wall coverings, and office equipment • Microbial volatile organic compounds, such as mold and mildew • Semivolatile organic compounds, which come from fire retardants and pesticides • Inorganic gases, such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide • Particulate matter from burning fuels in cars and from burning combustion products In the early 1990s, a Scandinavian researcher, Lars Molhave, introduced the term total volatile organic compounds to reflect the burden of volatile organic compounds in indoor air. This term has received considerable acceptance among indoor air quality experts, noted Bernheim (Hudnell et al., 1992)
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From page 30... ...
Nonetheless, an increas ingly robust scientific database supports the importance of this phenomenon. Design Principles in Healthy Buildings It is important to design and build in ways that reduce the probability of mold growth, avoid moisture accumulation, consider cleaning requirements, and reflect an understanding of the influence of factors such as low-emitting materi als, ventilation, humidity control, and surface temperatures on indoor air quality.
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From page 31... ...
for new construction, said Bernheim. While concentrating on the indoor environment, green healthcare advocates also need to understand public, occupational, and environmental health impacts beyond the building.
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From page 32... ...
defines biological determinants of optimal health as "those those various conditions which tend to promote or permit optimal physiological, mental, and social performance in an animal in its ‘natural' or evolutionary environment." " Boyden argues that environments need to fully satisfy both survival needs and well-being needs, which are different. Survival needs have to do with clean air and water -- people are very likely to get sick without these assets -- while well-being needs have to do with psychosocial adjustment, stress reduction, and quality of life (Boyden, 1971)
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From page 33... ...
Currently, hospital environments confront patients with psychosocial deprivation that creates negative health consequences, said Heerwagen. Patients in healthcare facilities experience pain, discomfort, and anxiety.
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From page 34... ...
Improving the psychosocial state -- Judith Heerwagen of patients is an important consid eration in hospital design, she said. Hospitals should address the follow ing key environmental factors: aesthetic pleasantness of the building, sunlight, noise reduction and positive sound stimulation, connection to nature, socially supportive spaces where patients can be with family, and increased behavioral control.
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From page 35... ...
Participants considered evidence-based ways to improve safety and performance, improve patient satisfaction, and save money. The resulting design features readily available handwashing stations, improved air filtration systems, better separation of "clean" and "dirty" areas on patient floors, transportation modalities that separate patients from potentially infectious materials and wastes, standardization and consistency of layout, and glare-free lighting.
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From page 36... ...
. Based on the Pebble Project results, Parker suggests that better design may result not only in fewer patient falls, but also in fewer patient transfers, fewer nosocomial infections, reduced nurse turnover, and reduced drug costs.
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From page 37... ...
They are close to achieving that goal. Parker closed with the hope that this workshop has helped contribute evidence to make a powerful business case for quality, safety, and sustainability in American health care.
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