5 ways decarbonization benefits public health (and 5 ways we can go further)

While the pursuit of decarbonization will naturally support public health in many ways, we can do more. Through a thoughtful approach to sustainable design and construction, we can deepen the benefits that decarbonization presents to public health. The following five areas demonstrate ways that decarbonization is already promoting human wellbeing, as well as ways we can lean further into strategies that maximize that impact.

1. Improving indoor air quality

A built environment designed to run on non-renewable energy sources poses a risk both to environmental sustainability and the health of residents and occupants. In addition to CO2, gas-fueled systems release carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which can have detrimental health effects.

Replacing these high carbon-emitting gas systems with electric ones reduces a building’s carbon footprint and prevents dangerous gas buildup indoors, protecting the health of building occupants.

How we can go further

Without proper planning, decarbonization efforts can with improved indoor air quality. For example, “tightening” a building to prevent air leaks and improve energy efficiency can trap pollutants indoors, allowing them to accumulate to unhealthy levels.

We can create cleaner indoor air while also pursuing energy efficiency, as demonstrated by 1550 on the Green in Houston, Texas, pursuing LEED Platinum and WELL certifications. We designed 1550 on the Green using the EC3 tool, reducing embodied carbon by 45 percent, and leveraged automation technology to efficiently control building systems. The result is a project that uses 21 percent less energy, but achieves 30 percent more fresh air ventilation, than typical class A office buildings.

2. Heat mitigation

Rising temperatures are one of the greatest risks to public health posed by climate change. The number of heat-related deaths has been steadily increasing since 2021, coinciding with a rise in global temperatures. Heat exposure can also exacerbate underlying health conditions, putting vulnerable populations at even greater risk.

Energy efficiency is one of the most effective resources to combat climate change. Smart buildings, for example, use a shared IT network to monitor all building systems, from lighting to HVAC, allowing a building to run more efficiently and reduce its carbon emissions.

How we can go further

We must also consider the acute impact of the built environment on urban communities. The heat island effect puts communities at greater risk of heat-related health complications and increases the energy demand on building temperature control systems.

During our renovation of the we constructed a green roof to help remove ambient heat and reduce the energy required to maintain temperature stability. This simple addition lowers the library’s carbon emissions and protects surrounding residents from the heat island effect.

Durham Library

3. Mental health

The built environment plays a role in mental health; in fact, urban areas that lack green spaces or easy access to nature can create higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Thoughtfully incorporating green spaces into and around buildings provides occupants regular contact with nature and positively impacts their wellbeing. Likewise, these spaces support decarbonization through carbon absorption, reduction of the heat island effect and improved energy efficiency.

How we can go further

The mental health benefits of decarbonization can be strengthened by thoughtfully implementing biophilic design, which even more holistically brings natural elements into the built environment to create calming and inviting spaces.

We’re implementing biophilic design at the Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation in Portland, OR, to benefit University of Portland students. Large windows optimize natural daylight to coincide with students’ circadian rhythms while also conserving energy. The mass timber roof reduces the building’s embodied carbon and brings a natural aesthetic to the classroom, enhancing students’ ability to learn.

Biophilic design was also central to the construction of the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) in Vancouver, WA. To facilitate social connections, “green rooms” composed of wooden structures and a natural color palette are incorporated throughout the building, providing a welcoming space for students to socialize. Mass timber flooring and roofing creates the acoustic environment necessary for students of all hearing levels to communicate effectively while limiting distractions from ambient noise vibrations.

4. Reducing air pollution

The same fossil fuels that are responsible for nearly 90 percent of global carbon emissions also pollute the air with nitrogen oxide, a primary culprit behind smog and acid rain. Carbon-induced climate change also contributes to more frequent wildfires, which release smoke and ash that contribute to thousands of premature deaths annually, according to research from Yale.

While these pollutants pose a health risk to everyone, they are a specific risk to people with preexisting health conditions, like asthma or COPD. As we shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, we’re also taking steps toward improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

How we can go further

Even without the use of fossil fuels, the construction process can pollute the air with dust and other particulates. However, with careful project planning, these health risks can be mitigated, as our team demonstrated on the University of Washington Medical Center Montlake Tower expansion in Seattle, WA. The project took place on an active hospital campus, so preserving patient wellbeing was essential. We developed innovative negative air walls, known as robust ICRA walls, to protect patients from dust, bacteria and other particulates during construction.

5. Climate resilience

Acute climate disasters like floods, wildfires and droughts endanger human lives and put an enormous economic strain on cities, causing billions in damage each year. Climate resilience is our ability to prepare for, recover from and adapt to these effects of climate change.

Decarbonization fulfills one component of an effective climate resilience strategy: mitigation. Reducing the carbon emissions of the built environment can help lessen the severity and frequency of climate disasters by slowing the effects of climate change.

How we can go further

We can’t prevent climate disasters, but we can do more to develop the second component of a climate resilience strategy: adaptation.

Our was one of several New York projects aimed at helping the city adapt to better handle coastal flooding. After Hurricane Sandy, we rebuilt the boardwalk three feet above the 100-year flood plain using durable steel-reinforced concrete, enabling it to better withstand future climate disasters.

Looking forward

The work we do today creates a sustainable, healthy tomorrow.

Ryan Resilience Lab, a net-zero and Earthcraft Gold certified project that encapsulates the mitigation and adaption strategies of a successful climate resilience approach. It serves as an educational hub for these strategies in action, demonstrating resilient, sustainable practices that local homes and businesses can replicate.

Similarly, our construction of the Kendeda Building for Sustainable Design in Atlanta, GA, is glimpse into the future of environmental and human sustainability. This Living Building Challenge-certified project is a living laboratory that embodies the sustainable principles taught within its classrooms. The Kendeda building is water and energy positive, carbon neutral and contains no red-list materials that would negatively impact occupant health.

These two projects demonstrate how our industry can advance environmental and public health through education. Our journey of decarbonization has already laid the groundwork for how we can cultivate a healthier built environment that promotes human wellbeing. As we continue to learn more about the intersections of decarbonization and public health, we become even better equipped to develop holistic strategies that consider people and planet.

See how Skanska builds for a healthier, more sustainable future.