Light Can Reduce Errors, Improve Outcomes in Health-care Settings
Paying attention to lighting can help reduce depression, alleviate pain, and improve sleep and circadian rhythms to support the healing process, writes researcher Angali Joseph, PhD, who reinforces that where good color rendering and bright, changing, visual environments are desirable, energy-efficient natural light is ideal and should be incorporated in design whenever possible.

Moisture Penetration—Not Climate—the Leading Cause of Mold
The Top 10 “moldiest” states may surprise you
Moisture intrusion, not climate, is the largest contributor to mold in U.S. residential and commercial properties, according to a recent report by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI), a nonprofit organization that works with lenders and property developers on mold-risk mitigation techniques. The findings are based on mold losses on insurance claims.

best practices
Dealing with the Wait for Hot Water
In the typical American home, 10,000 gallons of water per year are wasted as we wait for hot water to come through the tap. There are design solutions, notes Alex Wilson, president of BuildingGreen Inc., including continuous-circulation systems, on-demand systems, and small-diameter hot-water tubing.