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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Brian Yeoman, Associate VP for Facilities Planning and Development, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University Tower Central, Suite 1800, 7000 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030, 713-5004998, Brian.K.Yeoman@uth.tmc.edu
The inextricable linkage between the built environment and health is unarguable. Health in the urban environment is on the decline, and the ecosystme is in jeopardy. Our buildings are significant contibuting factors to the systemic decline of public health. Our students, faculty and staff have concerns about auto emissions, solid waste, and indoor air quality. The community has concerns about health issues which are not being adequately addressed, such as cancer, asthma, attention deficient disorder, and multiple sensitive resistant strains of bacteria.
Most Americans spend more time in their workplace than in their residence. Therefore, the responsibility each building owner has to the occupants to provide a healthy productive workplace cannot be emphasized enough. Unfortunately, most owners are only willing to comply with the minimal standards imposed by regulatory agencies. Informed by principles of The Natural Step, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has moved from being yet another product of the reductionist science model of the 20th century to a more holistic systems "thinking" model.
This presentation addresses the tactics used to reduce our environmental footprint through changed behavior in the routine operation and maintenance of our buildings. It will also address the design strategies informing the planning of 750 million dollars of campus development, which will ensure changed behavior well into the future.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.