Architectural Epidemiology is a new, transdisciplinary field that turns small-scale real estate decisions into large-scale action on climate change and chronic disease.
Our Vision
Architectural Epidemiology will catalyze global progress on climate change and chronic disease by helping green and healthy building projects reflect community needs.
Buildings account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and up to 1/5 of chronic disease.
Green and healthy buildings can help turn that picture around – but only if they reflect community needs.
Bringing it Down to Earth
Since 2000, 15 billion sf of green buildings and 1/2 billion sf of healthy buildings have been constructed globally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience, and reduce chronic disease. But, the current one-size-fits-all approach has not translated into community benefit.
Since 2010, global building-related emissions have increased 10%, US heart disease has remained steady, and US obesity has risen from 27% to 30%.
Some frameworks grant bonus points to projects who prioritize local environmental health issues. But, our research shows that these measures have not moved the needle.
Architectural epidemiology bridges that last mile gap.
The building sector has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to flip from being a major contributor to climate change and chronic disease to becoming one of the primary forces behind their decline.
Architectural epidemiology takes a four pillar approach to transforming the real estate industry into a vehicle for community benefit.
Join the Conversation!
We look forward to building Architectural Epidemiology together.