Episode 29: Healthy Buildings & Transparency

Our choices of material selection might seem a minimal undertaking. But when you step back and look at the bigger picture, Architects can have a big impact on the environment simply by the material choices we make. Eric and I discuss the state of materials used in our buildings today as well as give you solid advice and the six questions you should ask every Sales Rep that you come into contact with. Listen to the Audio Click to Watch Show Notes: Materials change the world think what stone did for the Ancient Egyptians or how steel was forged into swords for armies or even into girders for skyscrapers in turn of the century Chicago think of how dimensional lumber allowed expansion of suburbia 1950s:  post world war II launched the age of the Petro-Chemical industry which spawned the chemical and toxins revolution. 1962:  Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, launched the environmental movement. In early 1960s a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer was 1 in 20, today it is 1 in 8. 1970:  EPA founded (Earth day and Clean Water and Clean Air acts) 1971:  President Nixon signing cancer act of 1971 1976:  Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)  – President Ford signed EPA has the burden of proof on what is toxic/dangerous and in 40 years they have only banned 5 chemicals, but 1500+ new ones released every YEAR. 1980:  sick building syndrome 1985:  California Prop 65 to control toxins in buildings 1989:  banned asbestos and lead paint (decades after lawsuits and health effects felt) 1990 – Today:  American Chemistry Council lobbies Congress (last year they spent $55MM) Chemicals in use and their direct health effects: Environmental Working Group tested umbilical cord blood for 300 chemicals and found 287, including Teflon, ScotchGuard, and fragrances, containing: *  phthalates *  endocrine disruptors *  known carcinogens We are quietly becoming genetically modified by toxic chemicals. People assume that if a product is sold, its safe, but NO ONE has tested it and NO ONE is allowed to know whats in it. We were sold the dream of “better living through chemistry” but never checked the health consequences. There are now 80,000+ chemicals on the market, making it impossible to sift through, and the EPA lacks the authority to properly regulate the chemical industry. Chinese manufacturers have two versions: highly regulated version for EU and China and cheap toxic versions for the US market This is not a secret: everyone in the building and health industry knows about this broken system FDA guidelines haven’t changed since they were enacted in 1938 Air pollution exposure is an invisible hazard responsible for seven million premature deaths every year, according to World Health Organization estimates. Regulations have been slow and corrupted so it’s pushed us toward transparency TOPICS COVERED IN PODCAST: 1.  What is Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)? 2.  What are Environmental Product Declarations (EPD’s)? LEED v4 makes heavy use of EPDs 3.  Transparency Labels? The Living Future Institute (the Living Building Challenge folks) have their own called Declare Mohawk Carpet examples Healthy Building Network has Pharos Think of these like a nutrition label for materials Transparency labels are NOT a guarantee of health:  just a disclosure of what’s in it so YOU can make informed decisions. QUESTIONS TO ASK SALES REPS FOR TRANSPARENCY 1. Where did this material come from?2. What are the by-products of its’ manufacturer?3. How is the material delivered and installed?4. How is the material maintained & operated?5. How healthy are the materials?6. What do we do with them once we are done with these materials?   DEALING WITH SALES REPS 1.  they want your sale, so make them work for it 2.  use your questions to have them educate themselves 3.  invite them back to give a lunch and learn once they are able to answer those questions 4.  mfrs listen to you (their customers) so YOU need to push them for transparency 5.  make it clear this is important to you and the firm DOCUMENTARIES MENTIONED: Stink!Unacceptable LevelsChemicalnationThe Human ExperimentToxic Hot Seat MovieThe Corporation  Blue Vinyl Homesick: A Documentary about Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Please Subscribe Please rate us on iTunes! If you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a review. It would really help us spread the word about the ARE Podcast. Thanks!