Articles by Stephanie Taylor, M.D., M. Arch, CIC

What should hospital facilities prioritize — maintaining healthy IAQ or decreasing energy consumption?

Mold concerns became highlighted in the 1920s, when commercial and military needs for safe storage and transport of supplies focused attention on preventing biological deterioration of materials.

In a sense, HVAC engineers are the physicians of the built environment because IAQ and water management determine the growth and transmission of microorganisms.

While travelling in Europe to the Indoor Air 2016 conference in Belgium, I had the opportunity to discuss a largely unspoken shift in the management of IAQ with a like-minded colleague, Dr. Walter Hugentobler from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

In our daily lives, we humans move through a sea of microbial life that is seldom perceived except in the context of potential disease and decay (L. Feazel 2009). 

Whether kids like school or not, attendance is mandatory for many years. Academic performance during this time often influences eventual jobs, income, and life satisfaction. During the formative years, parents mandate adequate sleep and good eating habits to improve their children’s concentration.

Evidence-based design (EBD), now a popular concept in health care facilities, is a very powerful tool.

The winter months are here! For those of us who live or work in in a cold climate, some form of heat is on, the windows are closed, and we may be sneezing and wheezing. 

Keep your innovative drive running throughout the new year.