Building Biology is the joyful, holistic science of healthy buildings, using Nature as our guide, the gold standard against which indoor environmental quality should be measured. It is the study of the relationships between humans, ecology, and our built environments. The aim is to create a healthy, natural, sustainable, and beautifully designed living and working environments. In building biology, buildings are referred to as our “third skin,” reflecting how closely we are connected to our built environment.“Bau Biologie” or “building for life” in German (or Building Biology as it is now called in the U.S.) was born following the devastation of World War II in Germany. The need for rapid reconstruction of homes led to mass-produced industrialized housing that made a growing segment of the population chronically unwell. Today we refer to these challenges “Sick Building Syndrome.” It results in escalating prevalence in conditions such as asthma, allergies, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS).

In the early 1960s, a multi-disciplinary gathering of concerned professionals, led by Professor Anton Scheider, PhD, systematically compared these new homes with traditional, pre-industrial homes, made of natural materials, using various forms of clay. What resulted were scientific standards for evaluation indoor environmental quality (including the 25 principles below), and the founding of the Institute of Building Biology & Ecology in Neubeuern, Germany.

Renowned German architect Helmet Ziehe was given permission to translate the German teachings of Bau Biologie into English in 1986, and soon founded the US-based Building Biology Institute in Clearwater, FL. Now in its 33rd year in the U.S., the Institute has been providing professional education, and certifying those completing its rigorous advanced coursework as Building Biologists. Its mission is to help create a global village of awareness about healthy homes, schools, and workplaces free of toxic indoor air, tap-water pollutants, and hazards posed by electromagnetic radiation. The Institute fulfills its mission by guiding both the general public and working professionals to an understanding of the vital and complex interrelationship between the natural and built environments, and teaching the means for merging these complementary environments into greater harmony and planetary health.

Building Biologists are essentially “House Doctors” making “house calls” which benefit the health and well-being of all the residents of the home. This holistic health approach, coupled with advanced environmental training and high-end equipment, are far beyond what home inspectors and energy auditors are equipped to assess.

Below are the Ecological Aspects of Living that Building Biologists are concerned about:

25 Building Biology Principles – Your Pathway to Healthier Homes
These guidelines help to assure a dwelling is life-enhancing for all its inhabitants, and not detrimental to its builders, with as little disruption to the environment as possible, and apply to new construction as well as to renovations.

Site and Community Design

• Verify that the site is free of naturally-occurring and human-made health hazards.
• Place dwellings so occupants are undisturbed by sources of human-made air, soil, water, noise and electro-pollution.
• Place dwellings in well-planned communities that provide ample access to fresh air, sunshine and nature.
• Plan homes and developments considering the needs of community, families and individuals of all ages.

Electromagnetic Radiation Health

• Provide an abundance of well-balanced natural light and illumination while using color in accordance with nature.
• Minimize building material interference with vital cosmic and terrestrial radiation.
• Adopt appropriate strategies to minimize exposure to harmful Electromagnetic radiation generated as a result of building electrification
• Adopt appropriate avoidance and shielding strategies to minimize exposure to radio frequency radiation generated by wireless devices within the building and from wireless sources outside the building.
• Avoid use of building materials that have elevated radioactivity levels.

Indoor Air and Water Quality 

• Assure low total moisture content and rapid desiccation of wet construction processes in new buildings.
• Provide for ample ventilation.
• All building materials shall be non-toxic with neutral or pleasant natural scents using natural and unadulterated building systems and materials.
• Use appropriate water and moisture exclusion techniques to prevent interior growth of fungi, bacteria and dust mites. Techniques to favor mass flow-through envelope enclosures with high hygric-buffering capacity.
• Assure best possible water quality by applying purification technologies if required.

Occupant Well-being

• Allow natural self-regulation of indoor air humidity, sound attenuation and healthy ion balance using hygroscopic (humidity buffering) and sorbent materials and finishes.
• Design for a climatically appropriate balance between thermal insulation and thermal storage capacity.
• Plan for climatically appropriate surface and air temperature.
• Use appropriate thermal radiation strategies for heating buildings including passive solar wherever viable.
• Provide adequate acoustical protection from harmful noise and vibration.
• Utilize physiological and ergonomic knowledge in interior and furniture design.
• Consider proportion, harmonic measure, order and shape in design.

Environmental Protection, Social Responsibility and Energy Efficiency

• Materials and methods of construction shall promote human health and well-being from the extraction of raw materials, through to end-of-building’s life.
• Avoid the use of building materials that deplete irreplaceable natural resources or are being harvested in an unsustainable manner.
• Minimize energy consumption throughout the life of the building utilizing climate-based and energy efficient design, energy and water saving technologies and renewable energy.
• Consider the embodied energy and environmental life cycle costs when choosing all materials used in construction.

To learn more about these Building Biology practices, check out the Building Biology Institute’s free resources – including factsheets, podcasts, whitepapers, videos, blog, and more go to: Building Biology Institute’s website.

While these 25 principles above are ideal for new and healthy construction, there are simple ways to incorporate these principles into an existing home, including:

• Hire a Building Biologist inspect the wellness of your home – both the indoor air quality and its EMF
• Turn your bedroom into a regenerative, chemical-free, EMF-free sleeping sanctuary
• Build in a masonry heater for less dependence on forced air heat and fossil fuels. https://www.tulikivi.com/
• Open windows when possible; add plants, natural fabrics and finishes to create a more natural balance of negative ions.
• Extend your home beyond its skin. Create natural surroundings to provide shade, filter air, and reduce noise pollutions for extended outdoor living.

Contact Mary Anne today to schedule your Building Biology home assessment.

You can reach her at (828) 628-5003 or through her Contact page.