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Buildings Impact
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Indoor Air Quality
Energy Use of Buildings
Buildings Water Use
Recycling Bottles
Time Indoors
Asthma Triggers
Improved IEQ Benefits
Green Buildings
The overall green building market (both non-residential and residential) is estimated to more than double from $36-49 billion in 2009 to $96-140 billion by 2013. Source: McGraw Hill Construction (2009). Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change
Continue reading: Green BuildingsEnergy Consumption of Buildings
Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. In the U.S., buildings account for 38% of all CO2 emissions. Source:Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook.
Continue reading: Energy Consumption of BuildingsWater Consumption
Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day—enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses. Source: EPA WaterSense, Why Water Efficiency?
Continue reading: Water ConsumptionU.S. Waste and Recycling
The U.S. generated approximately 254 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2007. Excluding composting, the amount of MSW recycled increased to 63.3 million tons, an increase of 1.9 million tons from 2006. This is a 3 percent increase in the tons recycled. Source: US EPA, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States. 2007 Fact and Figures.
Continue reading: U.S. Waste and RecyclingTotal Exposure
People in the U.S. spend about 90% of their time indoors. Source: Environmental Protection Agency (1987). The Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study.
Continue reading: Total ExposureIEQ Health Risks
Indoor contaminants such as dust mites, molds, cockroaches, pet dander, secondhand smoke and some chemicals can trigger asthma attacks. Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/ashtma03-05/asthma03-05.htm
Continue reading: IEQ Health RisksIEQ Asthma Attacks
More than 20 million people, including over 6 million children, have asthma, accounting for over 10 million outpatient clinic visits, nearly 2 million emergency department visits and nearly 4,500 deaths annually (2000). Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/ashtma03-05/asthma03-05.htm
Continue reading: IEQ Asthma AttacksAsthma Prevalence
More than 20 million people, including over 6 million children, have asthma, accounting for over 10 million outpatient clinic visits, nearly 2 million emergency department visits and nearly 4,500 deaths annually (2000). Source: Asthma Prevalence, Health Care Use and Mortality: United States, 2003-05
Continue reading: Asthma PrevalencePost Consumer Fiber Paper
Every 40 cases of 100% post consumer fiber paper saves the equivalent of the following:
- 24 trees 40 feet in height
- 7,000 gallons of water
- 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity
- 60 pounds of air pollution
Source: UCLA Sustainability
Continue reading: Post Consumer Fiber PaperCase Study
Flexibility
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Today's workplaces are often in flux. As organizations change direction or develop new services, people also move. Teams form and re-form. People move to new spaces and take on new responsibilities. The spaces themselves are transformed to meet new needs. These changes are much easier to accommodate, with less stress on people and the organization, when the workplace is designed to support flexibility.
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