2020 Speakers

The air we breathe contains harmful airborne contaminants that can lead to serious health issues and even death. The WELL Building Standard states that environmental air pollution is the #1 cause of premature deaths worldwide resulting in 7 million deaths annually. Considering we consume 15,000 litres of air EVERY DAY, the air we breathe should take more precedence in our overall health and pursuit of wellness. In this round table talk our expert panelists will focus on the global issue at hand.                                                                             

This session qualifies for 1hr CEU or 1 ConEd Structured Learning Credit

Outdoor air has been regulated for decades, but emissions from daily domestic activities may be more dangerous than anyone imagined. Harmful airborne contaminants within your home or workplace can lead to serious health issues and even death. It has been documented that most homes are more polluted than the air outside. 

COVID-19 is one of the diseases known to spread by infectious aerosols. The risk of pathogen spread (and therefore the number of people exposed), can be affected both positively and negatively by the airflow patterns in a space and by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems. How does this affect our living environment? How can professionals in the building industry help homeowners (or residents) to navigate safely through this unprecedented period of change?

In this informative and lively session, we hear from industry experts what we can do to ensure cleaner air where we live. This panel discusses indoor air quality/HVAC issues in the residential sector, based on the occupant/user perspective. With the COVID situation in mind, how can the trades help tackle the indoor air quality/ HVAC issue to ensure the living environment is a safe place to reside in? Discussions will include existing issues in houses, multi- units, mixed-use complexes (condos with shopping malls/ public transit/community facilities) and the concern residents have about germs and viruses in the air they breathe.

This session qualifies for 1hr CEU or 1 ConEd Structured Learning Credit

Due to changes in nature of economic forces, advanced technology and people’s lifestyle, the healthcare landscape is no longer as monolithic as before. The boundary of healthcare delivery is expanding and becoming blurred in society since the millennium. Visiting, staying, and receiving treatments in healthcare facilities are no longer the only options for people to cope with illness – aging at home and home care are some of the popular trends.

This issue was further amplified this year when the whole world was deeply affected by a global pandemic. For the past months we have been spending a considerable time at home as we:

• Attempt to protect ourselves and our families from getting infected and seek ways to reduce the spread of disease (COVID-19)
• Work, school and socialize at home
• Live and deal with different generations of people at home
• Conduct recreational activities (e.g. shopping, exercises, entertainment) at home

This panel discussion will give a brief overview on the basic design principles used in healthcare facilities design. It does not matter the project scale and type – ranging from adding a barrier-free walkway or ramp to upgrading a washroom or HVAC system or renovating a house and so on, some of these design principles are also applicable in planning, designing, and building residential projects to create an adaptable, comfortable, safer and healthier home for people regardless of age, ability, size or income.

This session qualifies for 1hr CEU or 1 ConEd Structured Learning Credit