Research Materials

Harvard’s Healthier Materials Playbook
In 2016, Dr. Joseph G. Allen and Heather Henriksen co-founded the Harvard Healthier Building Academy (HHBA), with a mission to design, build and operate healthier buildings. One focus area of the Academy has been on changing the purchasing practice on our campus and beyond toward materials without toxic chemicals. The result is a two-part playbook now codified in Harvard’s Green Building Standard.

Healthier Materials Research

Harvard’s Healthier Materials Playbook
In 2016, Dr. Joseph G. Allen and Heather Henriksen co-founded the Harvard Healthier Building Academy (HHBA), with a mission to design, build and operate healthier buildings. One focus area of the Academy has been on changing the purchasing practice on our campus and beyond toward materials without toxic chemicals. The result is a two-part playbook now codified in Harvard’s Green Building Standard.

Healthier Material Choices
Choosing healthier furnishings can help lower “forever chemicals” levels without costing a fortune.
Read more about PFA levels in buildings with healthier furnishings

Dust is Hormonally Active
Our study found that office workers are commonly exposed to hormone-disrupting chemical mixtures in the work environment.
Healthier Materials Impact
February 24, 2023– Healthy Buildings Blog
Meet the Team Materials
Joseph Allen, DSC, MPH, CIH
Director of the Healthy Buildings Program
Gadea Aguado Sierra
Master's Student with the Healthy Buildings Programs
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