Since the beginning of time, our ears have warned us of approaching danger. While their function remains the same, the dangers of today are different than they were in the past. Unwanted sounds can have serious health effects such as: hearing loss, cardiovascular disease high blood pressure, headaches, hormonal changes, psychosomatic illnesses, sleep disorders, reduction in physical and mental performance, stress reactions, aggression, constant feelings of displeasure and reduction in general well-being.
Thermal comfort becomes very evident when it is not attended to. When thermal conditions are adequate in one location, our body is in balance with the environment allowing us to perform activities normally.
Facades are the interface between the interior and exterior of a building. They are the most striking and visible parts of a building, they protect it from external agents and are one of the main contributors to creating comfortable environments since it is where thermal gains and losses occur. Just like our skin, an extremely versatile organ of our body, it should be natural for it to be the part of the building which bears technology capable of becoming adaptable to the environmental conditions of the place where it is located.
Few things irritate us more than exposure to excessive noise or inability to hear what we need to hear. Whether it's a nearby construction site, highway traffic, air conditioning, or a neighbor learning saxophone, research shows that noise can contribute to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, headaches, hormonal changes, sleep disturbance, reduced physical and mental performance, and the reduction of well-being. On the other hand, in an acoustically "comfortable" environment, in addition to listening to what we want, we focus better and feel calmer.
In a predominately urban world that constantly has to deal with complex problems such as waste generation, water scarcity, natural disasters, air pollution, and even the spread of disease, it is impossible to ignore the impact of human activity on the environment. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and it is urgent that we find ways to slow down the process, at the very least.
How can personal desires for freedom of travel and mobility be reconciled more successfully with our shared expectations for sustainable development? What alternatives are there today? We reached out to meet with those who are inventing tomorrow’s solutions today.
We believe that if we are to improve life in the world, we must build cities that are more breathable, and therefore healthier, and which provide a better quality of life for everyone. Achieving that requires us to take concerted action to combat pollution - including inside our homes - reduce our carbon emissions, and conserve and expand pockets of the natural world. We wanted to discuss these issues with some of those who are working to deliver such a transformation.
Building a more sustainable world means consuming fewer resources, and companies have a fundamental role to play in this collective effort. That means changing the way we design, manufacture and distribute our products and solutions, whether in terms of production (Industry 4.0, data, etc.), the way we use and recycle materials, or how we protect the environment around our production facilities. This overview looks at some solutions that are beginning to make a difference.
How can companies today express solidarity with local communities and NGOs in practical ways? What forms can this commitment take at grassroots level? To find out, we visited India, South Africa and USA.
