How Sustainable Are Covid-19 Mitigation Strategies for Buildings?
A conclusion to our conversation series New Perspectives on Health & Well-being features a discussion between Dr. Joseph G. Allen (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) and the series’ building industry experts.
Over eight weeks of early Tuesday morning conversations, industry experts presented an overview of a specific COVID-19 mitigation topic, through a sustainability lens. The conversations with attendees that followed addressed issues like what building owners are asking for, which solutions are proving most effective, and how these strategies measure up against various sustainability imperatives. In addition to the priority of human health through reduced viral transmission, we discussed the long-term impacts on health (like ozone and UV exposure), the environment (like GHG emissions from increased energy use), and the economy (capital as well as operational cost).
Optimally, building industry professionals in practice look holistically at all aspects of impact when making decisions. So to close the conversation series, we are bringing back all of our industry expert presenters for a final 90-minute discussion. Dr. Allen will begin with an introductory 15-minute presentation to set the stage for over an hour of discussion with the previous presenters and the building engineering and design community at large. Please join us as we debate the merits of various COVID-19 mitigation strategies, their sustainability impacts, and suggestions for moving forward addressing health and sustainability in the built environment.
This Panel Will Feature…
Air Filtration: John Swift, Principal, Buro Happold Engineering
Fresh Air: Patrick Murphy, Director of Sustainable Design, Vanderweil Engineers
Humidity Control: Nora McCawley, Mechanical Engineer, Buro Happold Engineering
Pressurization: Paul Tsang, Director of Engineering, Jacobs
UV Light: Eric Edman, Senior Associate, BR+A Consulting Engineers
Air Monitoring: Kathleen Hetrick, Sr. Sustainability Engineer, Buro Happold Engineering
Antimicrobials: Lisa Carey-Moore, Sustainability Analyst
Cleaning Practices: Tim Conway, Vice President Sustainability, Shaw Industries