Healthy Buildings II (Building Environment & Health) BSS300

COURSE STRUCTURE
This course is divided into eight lessons as follows:.

1. Environmental Impacts On Buildings
2. Chemicals
3. Building Surrounds
4. Furnishings
5. Finishes
6. Pesticides & Alternatives
7. Managing Interior Environments
8. Consulting

AIMS:

• Explain the impact of the macro-environment (location) on health.
• Explain the impact of building surrounds, including a garden, on the interior environmental conditions.
• Choose interior furnishings which are not likely to damage human health.
• Explain the health implications of using different types of finishes, including sealers, paints, preservatives and stains.
• Explain the health implications of using alternative methods of pest control inside buildings.
• Plan health conscious management systems of interior environments.

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

• Explain how proximity to different bodies of water can affect human health, including: *Sea/Ocean *Freshwater lakes *A river *Ground water.
• Explain how different aspects of prevailing weather patterns may influence house design in different regions, including: *temperature *rainfall *winds *day length.
• Explain in a summary, how proximity to electromagnetic radiation may impact on health.
• Explain in a summary, how proximity to different types of pollution can impact on health inside a dwelling.
• Compare the impact of different garden treatments upon temperature inside buildings, including: -tall trees -lawn -paving -mulched surfaces -climbers on walls.
• Explain how different garden design decisions can affect ventilation in a house, including: *earth shaping *planting *constructions *water features.
• Compare the affect different garden components on light inside a building, including: *Plant types *How plants are grouped *Walls *Topography *Pergolas.
• Explain how the visual characteristics of two different gardens influence the inside environment of a building.
• Analyse two different gardens for the impact they have on buildings they surround.
• Compare health aspects of different materials used for furnishings including: -metals -plastics -timbers -upholstery -curtains.
• Compare health aspects of different floor coverings including: -tiles -carpets -vinyl -cork -slate -timber.
• Explain health aspects of different electrical appliances including: -televisions -computers -refrigerators -microwaves -heaters -air conditioners -ovens.
• Evaluate the furnishings in a building inspected by the learner, to determine recommended changes to improve building habitability.
• Compare the health affects of different types of finishes including: sealers, paints, stains, preservatives and varnishes.
• Compile a resource directory of ten sources of healthy alternatives to traditional finishes.
• Describe the characteristics of three different specific products which are healthy alternatives to traditional paints and finishes.
• Explain the toxic affects of ten different pesticides commonly used in buildings, both during and after construction.
• List alternative "healthier" methods of controlling pests in buildings, including: -rodents -ants -termites -flies -cockroaches.
• Develop a detailed pest control strategy for a building, in the learners locality, which includes: -structural treatments during and post construction
  -preventative measures for anticipated problems
  -eradication measures for existing problems.
• Explain issues of building usage which can impact on health with respect to different factors including: -number of people -electricity -windows and doors -cooking -smoking -curtains -hygiene.
• Analyse the way two specific buildings including a home and a workplace are used; to determine health risk factors in that use.
• Recommend guidelines to the way in which different buildings, including an office, and a workplace, are used, to minimise negative impacts upon health.