Specifying Healthy Materials: What it means & how to find them

Responsible Consumption and Production by Design

On-Demand

May 2023

1 HSW CE Credit, AIA # DAS469-23, IDCEC # 118752

About this webinar

A vast array of building materials currently being used globally contain hazardous chemical contents that negatively impact human health. In contrast, architects and designers can meet or exceed health and sustainability goals by using materials that exhibit properties such as indoor moisture regulation and fire resistance.

This session reminds us why healthy materials should be prioritized and reviews the history of industry pledges and transparency initiatives. Additionally, participants will learn how to decipher between healthy and unhealthy materials and the keywords to look out for on material data sheets. References and resources for material sourcing and key questions to ask manufacturers will also be provided.

The content of this course has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.

Hosted by Taleen Josefsson

Taleen is a Brooklyn-based architect and Passive House Consultant based in Brooklyn who applies a holistic approach to tackling the complex environmental and social issues relating to the built environment. She is devoted to promoting healthy, low-energy architectural solutions that strengthen local communities, economies, and biodiversity. Taleen's work includes research and analysis on building material reuse as a method for reducing our industry’s negative environmental impact, with a proposed circular working method of “Form Follows Availability." She is also an active volunteer in the Architects Climate Action Network and enjoys sharing the latest in sustainability and architectural research via her Instagram: @the_holistic_architect.

Upon completion, you'll be able to:

  1. Express why healthy materials should be prioritized in building assemblies and interiors.
  2. Identify hazardous chemical content in material data sheets.
  3. Question manufacturers about material content data, as needed.
  4. Use available tools to simplify healthy material selection.

Entire 2023 series

$345 Single payment
12 HSW CE credits

Single session

$45 Single payment
1 HSW CE credit

Entire 2023 series

$29/month 12 Monthly payments
12 HSW CE credits

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Want to know more about the Change by Design initiative?

Large-scale changes all start small. Yet, little by little, it all contributes to building the world we want to live in. It starts with a simple conversation. Our Change by Design series is that conversation starter. 

Join our series of monthly 1-hour sessions curated to bring you innovative ideas from world-leading practitioners. We invite you to make a difference - locally and globally - one conversation and project at a time.

Need more motivation? Read our Change by Design inspiration post.

 

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