Buildings impact our environment, economy and communities. The health impact of buildings reach us both inside and outside the home. The Chicagoland area has one of the highest asthma rates in the country, disproportionately affecting low-income, urban populations—particularly children among these populations. While outdoor air pollution from industry, energy generation and transportation emissions is a significant contributor to health conditions such as asthma, indoor air can be even more toxic. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that indoor air can be five times as polluted as outdoor air.

To reduce indoor air pollution, building products chosen for use in homes must meet low- or no-toxicity standards. Toxins such as formaldehyde are often found in conventional fiberboard and furniture, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly found in conventional paints and other interior building materials. The same toxins that pollute indoor air and cause respiratory aggravation also manifest in the outdoor environment as smog and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate change. The decision to use less toxic building products and materials benefits not only residents, but the community as a whole.

A closer look at residential and commercial buildings reveals that they are responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas emissions annually, and that the carbon dioxide emissions from buildings in the United States equal the combined building emissions of Japan, France and the United Kingdom. In particular, the housing market is responsible for close to 20% of the United States carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The economic impact of energy use are as significant on wallets as they are on the planet. Buildings account for 72% of all electricity use and account for 80% of all electricity expenditures in the United States.

Of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 16% are generated from the energy used in homes nationwide. Energy generated in homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain and climate change. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the more money we save and the less pollution we generate. This savings extends to the community as a whole, ensuring that the community, by making more informed decisions today, can prevent having to bear the growing costs of pollution in the future.

As decision makers in the residential development process, you play an important role in reducing resource consumption and waste and in improving health and well-being in homes and communities.