Environmental Effects & Concerns
Design of the built environment not only has impacts on sustainability, but also plays a critical role in human wellness. From material ingredients to lighting and design, buildings have physiological and psychological influence on their occupants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines sick building syndrome as “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.” Inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor/outdoor sources and biological contaminants have been linked to sick building syndrome.
Some building materials have been shown to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor environment. In sufficient concentration, VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects. To help avoid the use of toxic building materials, design teams have advocated material ingredient transparency and documentation. Safety Data Sheet (SDS), Health Product Declarations® (HPDs) and Declare labels are all examples of transparency documents used to determine potential health from materials.
In addition to physiological impact, elements of building design like access to natural light and quality views have been shown to affect the psychological well-being of building occupants. There are numerous studies that explore and confirm the relationship between daylighting and human health.
- Impact of Windows and Daylight Exposure on Overall Health and Sleep Quality of Office Workers
- The Impact of Light on Outcomes in Healthcare Settings
- The Effects of Natural Daylight on Length of Hospital Stay
- Visual Delight in Architecture: Daylight, Vision and View
Exposure to the natural light-dark cycle is the main environmental cue to maintain human circadian rhythms. Access to this natural variation of light over time is thought to help maintain healthy sleep patterns, which in turn leads to reduced tension and stress, as well as improvements in physical health.
Natural daylight has been linked to higher productivity and performance in schools and the workplace. Access to a window with a view of nature has also been linked to shorter hospital stay lengths as compared to patients that have no access to natural daylight and quality views.
In some applications, natural ventilation through operable windows can save energy, offer occupants control of their environment and facilitate easier window washing.
