TRACK NINE
Health and the Environment
Sponsor: |
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Track Chairs:
Marilyn Strong, RN, Solar Design Associates, Inc., The Healing Garden
Naomi Mermin, Naomi Mermin Consulting
Plastics Contaminating Our Environment
and Food Web
11-12:30 Wednesday March 14
Session Chair: Marilyn Strong, RN, Solar Design Associates, Inc., The Healing Garden
Session Speakers:
Gregory A. Norris, PhD, Sylvatica, New Earth, Harvard School of Public Health
Marcus Eriksen, PhD, Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Level: Entry
Since the 1950’s plastics have become a cornerstone of out lifestyles from consumer products to packaging to building materials. Petroleum based plastics do not biodegrade, they simply photodegrade into smaller pieces creating pollution in our environment and poisoning our food web with endocrine disrupters. Plastics inundate the marine environment, on all beaches, across the world’s watersheds, accumulating in all oceans, leeching plasticizers and other monomers, while absorbing other hydrophobic pollutants. There is little to be done to remove what is in our oceans, currently a 6:1 ratio of plastic vs. plankton in the North Pacific Gyre, but prevention of future plastic discharge is a realistic goal, from post-Katrina lessons about waste management to changing the chemistry of common plastics.
Healthy Cleaning and Building Maintenance
Practices: Experience from the Field
2-3:30 Wednesday March 14
Session Chair: Naomi Mermin, Naomi Mermin Consulting
Session Speakers:
Jane Jones, Home Owners ReHab
Hong Lee, Urban Edge Housing
Noah Maslan, Urban Edge Housing
Level: Entry
When the building is done sustainability doesn’t end – how we clean and maintain buildings influences health, energy efficiency and durability. Come learn the best practices in cleaning, maintenance, unit turn over and even small scale renovations top keep buildings operating sustainably.
How Healthy Are Our Fuel Choices:
Health Effects of Fossil Fuel and Nuclear
4-5:30 Wednesday March 14
Session Chair: Marilyn Strong, RN, Solar Design Associates, Inc., The Healing GardenSession Speakers:
Linda Gunter, Beyond Nuclear
Jane K. Bright, Healthlink
Level: Entry
The first session speaker will outline the case against nuclear power and illustrate how, far from a climate panacea, an expansion of nuclear power is counter-productive to progress in implementing clean energy choices and making the world a safer place. The second speaker will address the health effects created by the use of fossil fuels and how to eliminate pollutants and toxic substances from the environment through measures including the passage of power plant regulations.
Healthy Homes: Measures for Improving Indoor
Air Quality and Health of Occupants in New and
Existing Residential Structures and Landscapes
8:30-10:00 Thursday March 15
Session Chair: Naomi Mermin, Naomi Mermin Consulting
Session Speakers:
Naomi Mermin, Naomi Mermin Consulting
Ellen Tohn, ERT Associates
Level: Entry
We spend over 90% of our time indoors and much of that is in our home environment. Rates of Asthma and other health problems associated with poor air quality and toxins found in and around homes are on the rise. This session helps identify the features and practices that make for a healthy home environment – inside and out. Learn to make homes dry, comfortable, toxin free and beautiful!
Climate Instability and Public Health / Our
Changing Northeast Climate
10:30-12:00 Thursday March 15
Session Chair: Marilyn Strong, RN, Solar Design Associates, Inc., The Healing
Session Speakers:
Paul R. Epstein, MD, Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School
Bruce Anderson, Boston University, Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA)
Level: Entry
Paul Epstein in addition to his work at the Center of Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, also worked with the IPCC. He will address climate instability and its effects on public health. Bruce Anderson is a scientist representing the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment Team. Bruce's talk will be on "Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast" and will explore the new findings of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment.
High Performance Hospital Buildings That Heal
2-3:30 Thursday March 15
Session Chair: Bill Ravanesi, Health Care Without Harm
Session Speakers:
Paul R. Lipke, Sustainable Step New England
Bill Ravanesi, Health Care Without Harm
Level: Entry, Intermediate
What can all large, complex building projects learn from the challenging setting of high performance health care design, construction and operations? What paths are healthily skeptical, early adopters from academic acute care hospitals pursuing to ensure they truly "Do no harm?" Case studies will explore healing environments in which energy strategies, day-lighting, non-toxic materials, natural ventilation and more all come together.
Making Housing Green, Healthy, and
Energy Efficient:
Realities and Resources
4-5:30 Thursday March 15
Session Chair: Naomi Mermin, Naomi Mermin Consulting
Session Speakers:
Rebecca Morley, National Center for Healthy Housing
Jay Waterman, Evergreen Communities, LLC
Level: Entry
Green claims to be healthier, more affordable and sustainable – but is it? This session provides participants with exposure to which parts of Green really result in health and the specifications from the national “Green” standards that help you achieve healthy outcomes. We present the real experience of developer trying to build Green and healthy affordable housing – which elements can we really afford in residential settings and just how do you pay for them.