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  • 2022
  • Book

Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Can Make You Sick—or Keep You Well

By: Joseph G. Allen and John D. Macomber
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:336
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Abstract

For too long we’ve designed buildings that haven’t focused on the people inside—their health, their ability to work effectively, and what that means for the bottom line. An authoritative introduction to a movement whose vital importance is now all too clear, Healthy Buildings breaks down the science and makes a compelling business case for creating healthier offices, schools, and homes.
As the COVID-19 crisis brought into sharp focus, indoor spaces can make you sick—or keep you healthy. Fortunately, we now have the know-how and technology to keep people safe indoors. But there is more to securing your office, school, or home than wiping down surfaces. Levels of carbon dioxide, particulates, humidity, pollution, and a toxic soup of volatile organic compounds from everyday products can influence our health in ways people aren’t always aware of.
This landmark book, revised and updated with the latest research since the COVID-19 pandemic, lays out a compelling case for more environmentally friendly and less toxic offices, schools, and homes. It features a concise explanation of disease transmission indoors, and provides tips for making buildings the first line of defense. At the center of the great convergence of green, smart, and safe buildings, healthy buildings are vital to the push for more sustainable urbanization that will shape our future.

Keywords

COVID-19; Buildings and Facilities; Health; Health Pandemics; Safety

Citation

Allen, Joseph G., and John D. Macomber. Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Can Make You Sick—or Keep You Well. Revised and updated edition, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2022.
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About The Author

John D. Macomber

Finance
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • 2022
    • Faculty Research

    The First Four Healthy Building Strategies Every Building Should Pursue to Reduce Risk from COVID-19

    By: Joseph G. Allen, Emily Jones, Marissa V. Rainbolt, Linsey C. Marr, David Michaels, Leslie R. Cadet, Shelly L. Miller, Meira Levinson, Lidia Morawska, Richard L. Corsi, Nira R. Pollock, Yuguo Li, Alasdair P.S. Munro, Kelly Grier, Qingyan Chen, John D. Macomber and Xiaodong Cao
    • February 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Sekisui House and the In-Home Early Detection Platform

    By: John D. Macomber and Akiko Kanno
    • February 2022 (Revised April 2022)
    • Faculty Research

    BUA Group

    By: John D. Macomber, Pippa Tubman Armerding and Wale Lawal
More from the Authors
  • The First Four Healthy Building Strategies Every Building Should Pursue to Reduce Risk from COVID-19 By: Joseph G. Allen, Emily Jones, Marissa V. Rainbolt, Linsey C. Marr, David Michaels, Leslie R. Cadet, Shelly L. Miller, Meira Levinson, Lidia Morawska, Richard L. Corsi, Nira R. Pollock, Yuguo Li, Alasdair P.S. Munro, Kelly Grier, Qingyan Chen, John D. Macomber and Xiaodong Cao
  • Sekisui House and the In-Home Early Detection Platform By: John D. Macomber and Akiko Kanno
  • BUA Group By: John D. Macomber, Pippa Tubman Armerding and Wale Lawal
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