Recorded presentation

Jonathan Herz, AIA, Office of Governmentwide Policy, Office of Real Property, U.S. General Services Administration, 1800 & F St., NW, Room 6217, Washington, DC 20405, 202-501-3476, Jonathan.herz@gsa.gov

The green building movement in the U.S. is rapidly changing the way business is done. Part of its success comes from a simplified definition of sustainable development that focuses on only two of its three core principles - pursuit of economic prosperity and environmental quality. The third element - social equity ? remains incidental to the other two. However, just as we are rightly concerned about the health and safety of building occupants, reduced operational costs, and reduced materials use, so should we be concerned with the living standards, environmental health and occupational safety of those who produce and install the products that go into our facilities, and of those who maintain them. By introducing social, environmental health, and occupational safety considerations into our everyday decisions concerning the built environment, we can create facilities of long-term value that are truly sustainable. We must learn to recognize that every building product or process has an equity component associated with it. This presentation will explain the links between environmental health, occupational safety, and sustainable development. Topics will include living wages and elimination of persistent toxics, and their importance in specification of products and services for facilities.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the participant (learner) will be able to

• Understand the importance of social factors in the lifecycle cost evaluation of "green" products.
• Develop a program for incorporating social factors into everyday decisions concerning the built environment.
• Consider wages and toxics in making Informed choices in the built environment.

Keywords: Environment, Sustainability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: U.S. General Services Administration
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Recorded presentation