Building Biology and Building Science: Approaches for Sustainable, Health-Supportive Design
What is Building Biology? What is Building Science? Where do these fields intersect, and how do they differ? Can a home simultaneously support human health and environmental sustainability?
The answer is yes! In today’s evolving building landscape, Building Biology and Building Science both play critical roles, offering distinct yet complementary approaches to sustainability, resilience, and human health. Building Biology, rooted in the principles of the Building Biology Institute (BBI), is dedicated to creating environments that promote health through nature-focused pollution-free building sites, non-toxic materials, and healthy indoor environments. Building Science focuses on the physics and performance of buildings, including moisture control, thermal insulation, air tightness, and energy conservation. At EcoNest Architecture we balance these fields, combining natural materials, passive climate control design strategies and scientifically sound building principles to design spaces that promote health and well-being. Generally, what benefits our health often aligns with what’s beneficial for the earth and the environment.
A central courtyard that provides evaporative cooling and cross ventilation throughout the home. Photo by Robert Reck.
Sustainability and Health: Two Sides of a Coin
Building Biology and Building Science prioritize sustainability, though with different approaches. Building Biology emphasizes creating health-focused, eco-friendly environments that support human well-being through the use of natural, non-toxic materials and mindful and balanced indoor climate. This approach focuses on the biological impacts of buildings, and supports occupants' physical and mental health, first and foremost. Key elements include the reduction of exposure to harmful chemicals, often found in conventional construction, and prioritizing natural lighting, passive ventilation, moisture balance, good acoustics, ion balance, low electro-climate, and colors and patterns in accordance with nature - all with the goal of creating spaces of comfort and productivity. Additionally, Building Biology encourages sustainable practices, like using renewable resources and minimizing waste, fostering resilience against environmental stressors with mass, earthen walls, and transforming buildings into nurturing spaces.
Building Science, while also emphasizing sustainable resource use, prioritizes the efficiency and longevity of materials, focusing on energy-saving construction techniques such as well-insulated walls, high-performance glazing, and energy-efficient HVAC systems. This perspective frames sustainability through the lens of material resilience and energy savings, which underpins certifications like LEED that evaluate buildings based primarily on sustainable features and energy performance. For example, Building Science supports high-performance insulation practices and effective moisture management, which can significantly reduce utility costs and extend the lifespan of building materials. It also leverages advanced technologies like energy modeling and building performance testing, enabling data-driven decision-making. This approach has driven the adoption of energy codes and standards in many jurisdictions, often with optional heightened guidelines, paving the way for more advanced sustainable developments.
Building Biology and Building Science both have unique challenges. Both fields often involve higher costs for specialized materials, which may require additional planning and extended sourcing times. In urban and more densely populated areas, implementing Building Biology principles can be particularly challenging, due to elevated levels of air and noise pollution, often necessitating mechanical ventilation instead of passive systems. Building Biology also addresses environmental factors such as electromagnetic and radio frequency fields, which are rarely considered or fully acknowledged in mainstream building practices. Additionally, finding skilled tradespeople familiar with these principles can be a hurdle. Building Science, while performance-focused, may sometimes overlook health aspects. For instance, the field often relies heavily on synthetic materials, one example being spray foam insulation. Building Science’s emphasis on measurable factors can sometimes inadvertently prioritize optimizing mechanical system strategies, sometimes overshadowing climate-based design strategies that could reduce the need for technological and energy inputs.
Both Building Biology and Building Science have raised awareness of "greenwashing," a marketing trend where materials are promoted as sustainable or healthy yet may contain harmful toxins or fail to deliver genuine health benefits. Greenwashing can mislead clients and designers alike, making it crucial to emphasize verifiable, measurable outcomes in design to ensure that health and environmental claims are real and backed by actual performance. While prioritizing different aspects of a healthy environment, both fields promote the use of certified materials with transparent chemical content disclosure and results-oriented approaches to help ensure that efforts genuinely support occupant health and environmental integrity. In the end, buildings that fail to manage moisture, temperature, and air – also fail to serve the health of the occupants.
EcoNest’s Holistic Approach: A Fusion of Both Philosophies
At EcoNest Architecture, we incorporate both Building Biology’s health-first principles and Building Science’s performance-driven focus, creating spaces that support wellness while meeting high standards of efficiency and resilience. Our projects are designed with natural, non-toxic materials, while also prioritizing energy efficiency and moisture management. Some examples include:
Covered breezeway for passive ventilation and outdoor connection
Material Selection and Indoor Air Quality: By utilizing materials like clay-based plasters, solid wood, and non-toxic finishes, harmful off-gassing is greatly reduced in EcoNest designs - a major component of both Building Biology and Building Science. In addition, the materials often meet both fields’ standards for resilience - materials that are durable, natural, low-VOC, low in embodied energy, and built to last for generations.
Passive Design and Renewable Energy Integration: We design buildings to maximize natural lighting and passive solar heating, aligning with Building Biology’s preference for natural energy flows. When feasible, we also integrate Building Science’s energy-efficient features, such as solar panels or high-efficiency mechanical systems. Both fields emphasize the importance of minimizing operational energy usage and maximizing passive design strategies to optimize building efficiency.
Moisture Management: To address mold and other moisture-related risks and achieve healthier indoor air quality, EcoNest designs incorporate both Building Biology principles on hygroscopic materials and Building Science’s moisture control strategies, such as vapor-permeable weather barriers and thorough air sealing. These combined approaches help create healthier indoor environments, supported by scientific research and microscopic analysis.
Ongoing Maintenance: All buildings, especially health-focused homes, require regular maintenance to maintain effectiveness over time, particularly with systems like HVAC and using non-toxic cleaning supplies, both have high impacts on indoor air quality. We also emphasize the importance of working with certified professionals for thorough inspections, moisture management, and air quality reviews and assessments.
At EcoNest, we diligently review and vet building products, recommending materials based on ingredients transparency, proven health benefits, and great track records. We also advise clients to work with licensed professionals who can provide guidance in navigating the complexities of sustainable construction, helping to avoid greenwashing, and ensuring adherence to local building codes as well as individual health standards – resulting in truly health-supportive homes and genuine sanctuaries.
Now that you’re familiar with Building Biology and Building Science, which factors do you value most in creating a healthy home? How do you see your home enhancing your well-being and supporting your lifestyle?
Article by Mae Yuuki