The Indoor and Outdoor built environment has a major impact on the health of individuals and populations. The NH PHA recognizes that by supporting initiatives that improve the quality of our built environment, we can help people maintain good health and prevent disease.
For those reasons, the NHPHA supports the following efforts that will make our built environment healthier:

• Incorporate sustainable, “green,” and “high performance” building practices in the siting, construction and renovation of schools and public buildings;
• Adopt policies to reduce hazards in homes, schools and workplaces that may negatively impact the health of individuals and populations;
• Support sustainable community development that promotes physical activity, access to open space, preserves and protects natural resources, and encourages smart growth.

Resources:

Brownson K. “Hospital air is sick” Hospital Materials Management Quarterly 22: 2 (November 2000) 1-8.

Ewing, Reid, Keith Bartholomew, Steve Winkelman, Jerry Walters, and Don Chen.  Growing Cooler; The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change.  Washington, DC:  Urban Land Institute, 2008.  http://www.smartgrowth...rg/gcindex.html.

Fernández, JE. “Materials for Aesthetic, Energy-efficient, and Self-diagnostic Buildings,” Science. 30:315 (March 2007) 1807-10. 

Jones , S.E., R. Axelrad and W. A. Wattigney. “Healthy and Safe School Environment, Part II, Physical School Environment: Results from the School Health Policies and Programs Study 2006.” Journal of School Health  77:8 (October 2007) 544-56.

Leech, J.A., M. Raizenne, and J. Gusdorf.  “Health in Occupants of Energy Efficient New Homes.” Indoor Air 14:3 (June 2004) 169-73.

U.S. Green Building Council.  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systms. http://www.usgbc.org/D...Page.aspx...148