EMF is just one aspect to consider in a healthy home. Building Biology addresses this aspect along with many others. Building Biology is the holistic study of the interaction between the built environment, human health, and nature. Building Biology originates in Germany, where it is called “Bau-Biologie™.” It was developed there by a group of professionals from a variety of disciplines concerned about the inability of post-war housing to support health and ecology.
Building Biology encompasses the following 25 principles10:
Site and Community Design
1. Verify that the site is free of naturally occurring health hazards. 2. Place dwellings so occupants are undisturbed by sources of man-made air, soil, water, noise and electro-pollution. 3. Place dwellings in well-planned communities that provide ample access to fresh air, sunshine and nature. 4. Plan homes and developments considering the needs of community, families and individuals of all ages.
Occupant Health and Well-Being
5. Use natural and unadulterated building materials. 6. Allow natural self-regulation of indoor air humidity using hygroscopic (humidity buffering) building materials. 7. Assure low total moisture content and rapid desiccation of wet construction processing in new buildings. 8. Design for a climatically appropriate balance between thermal insulation and thermal storage capacity. 9. Plan for climatically appropriate surface and air temperature. 10. Provide for ample ventilation. 11. Use appropriate thermal radiation strategies for heating buildings including passive solar wherever viable. 12. Provide an abundance of well-balanced natural light and illumination while using color in accordance with nature. 13. Provide adequate acoustical protection from harmful noise and vibration. 14. Utilize non-toxic building materials that have neutral or pleasant natural scents. 15. Use appropriate water and moisture exclusion techniques to prevent interior growth of fungi, bacteria, dust and allergens. 16. Assure best possible potable water quality by applying purification technologies if required. 17. Utilize physiological and ergonomic knowledge in interior and furniture design. 18. Consider proportion, harmonic measure, order and shape in design.
Nature is the Gold Standard. — Building Biology tenet
Natural and Man-made Electro-Magnetic Radiation Safety
19. Minimize indoor interference with vital cosmic and terrestrial radiation. 20. Minimize man-made power system and radio frequency radiation exposure generated from within the building and from outside sources. 21. Avoid use of building materials that have elevated radioactivity levels.
Environmental Protection, Social Responsibility and Energy Efficiency
22. Construction materials production and building processes shall provide for health and social well-being in every phase of the building’s life-cycle. 23. Avoid the use of building materials that deplete irreplaceable natural resources or are being harvested in an unsustainable manner. 24. Minimize energy consumption through the life of the building utilizing climate-based and energy efficient design, energy and water saving technologies and renewable energy. 25. Consider the embodied energy and environmental life cycle costs when choosing all materials used in construction.
Much more information about Building Biology can be found here and here.
10 Paula Baker-Laporte, Christopher Bell, Lawrence Gust, and Spark Burmaster for International Institute for Building-Biology® & Ecology. v1.4, January 2014. International Institute for Building-Biology® & Ecology, http://hbelc.org/pdf/standards/25Principles.pdf, accessed on March 8, 2014.
About Building Biology
EMF is just one aspect to consider in a healthy home. Building Biology addresses this aspect along with many others. Building Biology is the holistic study of the interaction between the built environment, human health, and nature. Building Biology originates in Germany, where it is called “Bau-Biologie™.” It was developed there by a group of professionals from a variety of disciplines concerned about the inability of post-war housing to support health and ecology.
Building Biology encompasses the following 25 principles10:
Site and Community Design
1. Verify that the site is free of naturally occurring health hazards.
2. Place dwellings so occupants are undisturbed by sources of man-made air, soil, water, noise and electro-pollution.
3. Place dwellings in well-planned communities that provide ample access to fresh air, sunshine and nature.
4. Plan homes and developments considering the needs of community, families and individuals of all ages.
Occupant Health and Well-Being
5. Use natural and unadulterated building materials.
6. Allow natural self-regulation of indoor air humidity using hygroscopic (humidity buffering) building materials.
7. Assure low total moisture content and rapid desiccation of wet construction processing in new buildings.
8. Design for a climatically appropriate balance between thermal insulation and thermal storage capacity.
9. Plan for climatically appropriate surface and air temperature.
10. Provide for ample ventilation.
11. Use appropriate thermal radiation strategies for heating buildings including passive solar wherever viable.
12. Provide an abundance of well-balanced natural light and illumination while using color in accordance with nature.
13. Provide adequate acoustical protection from harmful noise and vibration.
14. Utilize non-toxic building materials that have neutral or pleasant natural scents.
15. Use appropriate water and moisture exclusion techniques to prevent interior growth of fungi, bacteria, dust and allergens.
16. Assure best possible potable water quality by applying purification technologies if required.
17. Utilize physiological and ergonomic knowledge in interior and furniture design.
18. Consider proportion, harmonic measure, order and shape in design.
Natural and Man-made Electro-Magnetic Radiation Safety
19. Minimize indoor interference with vital cosmic and terrestrial radiation.
20. Minimize man-made power system and radio frequency radiation exposure generated from within the building and from outside sources.
21. Avoid use of building materials that have elevated radioactivity levels.
Environmental Protection, Social Responsibility and Energy Efficiency
22. Construction materials production and building processes shall provide for health and social well-being in every phase of the building’s life-cycle.
23. Avoid the use of building materials that deplete irreplaceable natural resources or are being harvested in an unsustainable manner.
24. Minimize energy consumption through the life of the building utilizing climate-based and energy efficient design, energy and water saving technologies and renewable energy.
25. Consider the embodied energy and environmental life cycle costs when choosing all materials used in construction.
Much more information about Building Biology can be found here and here.
10 Paula Baker-Laporte, Christopher Bell, Lawrence Gust, and Spark Burmaster for International Institute for Building-Biology® & Ecology. v1.4, January 2014. International Institute for Building-Biology® & Ecology, http://hbelc.org/pdf/standards/25Principles.pdf, accessed on March 8, 2014.
Photo credit: stevebennettbuilders