WHY GO GREEN: SICK BUILDING SYNDROME
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is related to poor indoor air quality - both at work and at home.
SBS is generally caused by poorly designed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. But it can also be a result of contaminants produced by offgassing from products, materials, moulds and cleaning compounds.
Symptoms are often dealt with after the fact by boosting the turn over rate of fresh air exchange with the outside air - but the new green building design goal should be to avoid SBS problem sources in the first place.
Designers can help by planning buildings that minimize the need for ongoing use of cleaning compounds that encourage allergenic negative effects and eliminate conditions for potentially deadly mould growth.
Studies have shown that women, children and the elderly tend to be more prone to SBS effects.