The link between human health and the natural environment has long been established. There is now a growing recognition of how our health and wellness is also impacted by the health of indoor and built environments around us. As considerations of human health, global development and climate change gain traction, public health professionals are crucial to understanding these links and mitigating health risks in our environments.

Public health professionals touch many aspects of the built environment

There are countless ways that our surrounding environment impacts human health—high temperatures, outdoor air pollution, chemical toxins and availability of transportation modes, for example. This list of interconnected impacts only continues to grow as our understanding of health risks and human physiology increases over time. As our knowledge grows, so, too, does our need for public health professionals who have the expertise to demonstrate, mitigate and prevent the health risks created by our environments.

Public health professionals touch many aspects of both our natural and built environments, and there are numerous occupations within the field that influence health outcomes:

Toxicologists have a thorough understanding of how toxins and chemicals are used in buildings and how they might impact occupants.
Respiratory specialists use data and health statistics to demonstrate how air pollution from vehicles and energy production are linked to illnesses and breathing problems.
Occupational health and safety specialists help ensure that the health of those constructing or doing business in a green building are protected.
Ecologists and biologists have the environmental expertise to ensure that development does not hamper the ecosystem services that foster human health.

The green building movement seeks to both protect the environment and improve human health outcomes, and public health professionals are a vital part of ensuring this holistic goal. Considerations such as the chemicals and energy sources being used in a building; the availability of networks for walking and bicycling in a community; and the design of an indoor environment with pleasant views, acoustics and thermal comfort are all part of aspects in which the voices of public health professionals drive positive outcomes.

Learn more about public health professionals

To support learners who are interested in a health-oriented building career, or those who want to learn more about the nexus of the built environment and human health, USGBC has created a public health professional course bundle. This bundle of courses is available for only $75, which is less than the cost of four individually purchased courses or the course catalog subscription. By completing the four bundle courses, you will earn 4 GBCI CE credits, including 2 LEED-specific hours.

Courses include:

Inclusive Pathways to Health in LEED v5: Harnessing Biophilic and Universal Design—Hear from those involved in the development of the LEED v5 rating system about how they considered and prioritized human health for the newest version of LEED.
Benchmarking for Health Within the Real Estate Sector—A panel of industry experts discusses the growing importance of human health in the real estate sector, and how companies and building owners can measure and communicate health impacts.
LEED Strategies and Case Studies: Health and Wellness in LEED—Learn from project stories how LEED creates a healthier environment in support of occupant health and wellness.
Making All Buildings Healthier—Learn how sustainable buildings can be good for both environmental and human health, and how human health is impacted across the life cycle and supply chain of a building.

In addition to the above courses, more resources to support aspiring and current public health professionals include:

Occupational profile: Public health professionals
USGBC priorities: Human health

Learn more about public health professionals

Spotlight on green careers: Public health professionals