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Blogs

Take an inside look into emerging markets and trends. Gain valuable new perspectives from HBN experts and our partners. Be inspired to know better.

Vote For An HBN Greenbuild Session by July 13th!

Bill Walsh | July 2018 | Newsletter

This year, Greenbuild has created a People’s Voice track, and HBN has proposed a session that we hope will earn your vote: the first conference presentation of our forthcoming global inventory of chlorine and PVC production.


 


HomeFree Receives Funding to Expand its Pioneering Work

Billy Weber | July 2018 | Newsletter

The JPB Foundation has awarded Healthy Building Network funding to continue and expand the work of our pioneering HomeFree initiative, which improves the health of marginalized communities by advancing and accelerating the adoption of healthier materials in affordable housing. HomeFree connects the dots between the toxics in our built environment and human health implications – like asthma, developmental delays, cancer, and more. This funding will allow us to build capacity through new educational options, co-create actionable solutions with our regional and national partners, and scale our impact.


Introducing the Chemical Hazard Data Commons

Tom Lent | July 2018 | Newsletter

The Healthy Building Network (HBN) has rolled out a new tool for identifying chemicals of concern and finding less hazardous alternatives. The Chemical Hazard Data Commons combines the power of HBN’s Pharos Chemical and Material Library with new tools for visualizing hazard scoring, comparing hazards for chemical lists, staying on top of changes, finding safer alternatives, surveying other databases, and tapping the wisdom of the Data Commons community to collaborate on problem solving and solutions.


Pharos Adds Hazard Data For 26,000 Previously Uncharacterized Chemicals

Michel Dedeo | July 2018 | Newsletter

The Pharos Chemical and Material Library, our flagship database, extends its reach as the unmatched tool for researching chemical hazards with the addition of hazard data for 26,000 previously uncharacterized chemicals. The bulk of this data (almost 50,000 distinct hazards for 25,000 chemicals) are modeled hazard associations using QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship) from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. This type of computer modeled data is used extensively by the pharmaceutical industry to predict beneficial and non-beneficial impacts of chemicals. The hazard data for an additional 1,000 previously uncharacterized chemicals were submitted by manufacturers to the European Chemicals Agency under the EU law known as REACH (European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).


Retailers Showing Leadership In Driving Healthier Building Materials

Bill Walsh | July 2018 | Newsletter

Building product retailers, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, are showing welcome leadership in the drive toward healthier building materials. Their efforts are important both in scale, which could change the national supply chain, and scope, as these retailers are offering healthier products in all market segments, including lower priced items.

 


Transparency and Product Disclosure Grows

Gina Ciganik | July 2018 | Newsletter

To know better, we need to understand what chemicals and materials are in our products, and the health hazards associated with them. Not that many years ago, it was nearly impossible to obtain this type of information. Fortunately, transparency leaders are emerging within product manufacturers and their supply chains.


The New Challenge For Lead-Free Schools

Bill Walsh | April 04, 2018 | Materials

To mark National Public Health Week (April 2-6, 2018) national experts in education, childcare, and children's health today issued a joint call to get the lead out of schools and childcare facilities. Their report, Eliminating Lead Risks in Schools and Child Care Facilities, is the first to set strategic priorities for reducing lead exposure to the more than 66 million children enrolled in schools and child care programs.


Healthy Building Network Hires Two Staff, Seeks Chief Research Officer

David Kennedy-Logan | March 08, 2018 | Announcements

Healthy Building Network (HBN) hired two staff in the first quarter of 2018, to bolster internal capacity, expand programmatic expertise, and drive future growth: Biftu Takele, Executive Assistant, and William Weber, Collective Impact Director. As part of our continued evolution, HBN is also currently seeking applicants for a new key leadership role at the organization, Chief Research Officer.