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Creating a More Healthful, Less Toxic Built Environment

Creating a More Healthful, Less Toxic Built Environment. Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D. President and CEO, Green Seal, Inc. APHA Conference Washington, D.C. November 9, 2004. Overview of Presentation. Common products as source of toxins alternative, non-toxic products

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Creating a More Healthful, Less Toxic Built Environment

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  1. Creating a More Healthful, Less Toxic Built Environment Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D. President and CEO, Green Seal, Inc. APHA Conference Washington, D.C. November 9, 2004

  2. Overview of Presentation • Common products as source of toxins • alternative, non-toxic products • Data linking toxins to health and welfare • Environmental standards promote alternatives • product life-cycle as basis • Benefit of standards • linkages to occupants and community

  3. Common Products As Source of Toxins • HVAC systems, carpets, window furnishings, wallboard, furniture, partitions, paints, cleaners, fax and copier machines, etc. • Particleboard: urea formaldehyde • Paint: petroleum distillates, VOCs • Cleaners: reproductive toxins, VOCs

  4. Alternative, Non-Toxic Products • Most building products have non-toxic alternatives • no carcinogens, reproductive toxins, etc. • not toxic to aquatic life • not air pollutants or greenhouse gases • Examples • particleboard without formaldehyde resins • paints with low or no VOCs • Performance is equal

  5. Data Linking Toxins To Health and Welfare • Chronic exposure at small levels can harm • LBNL study links indoor environment to health and productivity: • former influences symptoms, disease, productivity • savings up to $58 billion in sickness avoided • $20-200 billion in improved productivity • improving indoor environments exceeds costs by factors of 9 and 14 • Similar studies with schools: sickness/scores and green O&M

  6. Goals, Results, and Means • Goals: Remove toxins from built environment • use precautionary, prevention approach • Results: Healthier = More Productive • greatest value of building in salaries • Means: How define non-toxic, green? • environmental standards

  7. Environmental Standards • Must be developed in open, transparent process • all interested stakeholders • proposal, comment, revision; consensus? • Based on sound technical information • life-cycle environmental impacts • environmental attributes in current market

  8. How Green Seal SetsEnvironmental Standards • Appoint Stakeholder Committee (incl. Users, Manufacturers, Trade Groups, Government, Environmentalists, Others) • Study category • Environmental Evaluation • Draft standard • Public review • Response-to-Comments • Stakeholder ballots • Publish standard

  9. Manufacturers Seventh Generation Spartan Chemical Clean Environment Co. Church & Dwight 3M Users US Postal Service Aberdeen Proving Ground Int’l Exec Housekeepers Assn American Federation of State, County, & Munic. Employees ServiceMaster Industries Government City of Santa Monica MN Ofc Of Env Assist. MA Exec Ofc of Env Affairs US EPA US GSA Environmental INFORM Global Toxics Campaign, WWF Washington Toxics Coalition Environmental Health Coalition Others UMass Toxics Use Reduction Institute Individual experts Stakeholder Committee for GS-37

  10. Life-Cycle Approach • Life Cycle: • material, energy, resource flows, in and out • extraction, manufacture, use, end-of-life • inventory, impacts, assessment • Ensures: • no significant impacts/attributes neglected • environmental impacts not simply shifted

  11. What Environmental Standards Represent • Combine life-cycle information and market • key environmental attributes in life-cycle • profile of products in market • Standards reflect leadership level • re environmental performance • top 15-20% of products in market • Guide purchasers, encourage producers

  12. Benefit of Standards for Built Environment • Cover products, procedures for • construction • operation and maintenance • Least environmental, health impact • Enhance productivity, health of workers, community

  13. Some Key Green Seal Environmental Standards • Lodging Properties (GS-33) • Institutional and Industrial Cleaners (GS-37) • Architectural Paints (GS-11) • Electric Chillers (GS-31) • Criteria for Green Facilities O&M (GS-39) • Tissue and Paper Towels (GS-1 & 9) • Photovoltaic Modules (GS-32) • Floor-Care Products (issue ca. Nov.)

  14. Linkages to Occupants, Community • Green buildings can: • boost productivity 6 to 26% • reduce absenteeism (sickness) by 15% • be a model for homes and communities • Green buildings are achievable and affordable • any incremental cost readily paid back • life-cycle cost less in longer run

  15. Conclusion • Common products in buildings: • can have serious toxic ingredients • can cause health and productivity impacts • Healthier substitutes can be found • Environmental standards are the guide • Green buildings promote health, productivity, and general welfare

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