Jessica Green: Good germs make healthy buildings

TL;DR

This content explores the impact of invisible microbial ecosystems on our personal health and how they can be consciously designed and influenced in various environments.

Transcript

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast Everything is covered in invisible ecosystems made of tiny lifeforms: bacteria, viruses and fungi. Our desks, our computers, our pencils, our buildings all harbor resident microbial landscapes. As we design these things, we could be thinking about designing these invisible worlds, and also thinking abou... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔬 Our bodies are home to trillions of microbes that define who we are, affecting our weight, moods, and immune system.
• 📊 By consciously designing the microbial ecosystems in our surroundings, we can influence our health in unprecedented ways.
• 🌿 Microbes in different spaces, such as offices and restrooms, create different ecosystems, similar to the diversity of ecosystems found in nature.
• 🌬️ Mechanical engineers can structure biomes in buildings through the design of air handling units, similar to eco-engineers shaping islands in an archipelago.
• 👥 Microbes are dispersed by people, so rooms in close proximity have similar biomes, while those further away have different ecosystems.
• 🌍 Bioinformed design can tackle challenging problems like hospital-acquired infections by considering building ecology and biogeographic patterns.
• 💨 Sustainable design choices, like passive ventilation, can help maintain healthier air quality in buildings by flushing out stagnant microbial environments.
• 🏢 Bioinformed design principles can be applied to any object or space, including planes and phones, to enhance microbial ecosystems and improve health outcomes.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are invisible ecosystems made of?

Invisible ecosystems are made up of tiny lifeforms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These ecosystems exist on our desks, computers, pencils, and buildings, among other things.

Q: How do these invisible ecosystems interact with our personal ecosystems?

Our personal ecosystems, which are home to trillions of microbes, interact with the ecosystems of everything we touch. For example, when we touch a pencil, there is a microbial exchange that takes place.

Q: Can we design microbial ecosystems in our surroundings?

Yes, it is possible to design microbial ecosystems. According to the speaker, we are already doing it, although unconsciously. By being more conscious and intentional, we can design these invisible worlds in our surroundings.

Q: How did the speaker's research demonstrate the impact of design on invisible worlds?

The speaker's research focused on architecture, specifically sampling over 300 rooms in the Lillis Business Complex at the University of Oregon. By analyzing the dust in these rooms, they were able to compare the gene sequences of the bacterial cells and observe the different ecosystems present.

Q: How do mechanical engineers impact the microbial ecosystems in buildings?

Mechanical engineers play a role in shaping the microbial ecosystems in buildings. By designing air handling units, they can influence the dispersal of microbes through the ventilation system. Different air handling units can result in fundamentally different microbial communities within a building.

Q: Do rooms that are close together have similar microbial ecosystems?

Yes, rooms that are close together tend to have similar biomes. This is because microbes are often transported by people, so rooms adjacent to each other have more microbial exchange. In contrast, rooms that are farther apart, such as offices that require a longer walking distance, have fundamentally different ecosystems.

Q: How can design choices impact the ecology and biology of a building?

Design choices, such as the ventilation system, can impact the ecology and biology of a building. In the speaker's research, classrooms that were experimentally manipulated to have no ventilation remained stagnant and developed a bad odor. On the other hand, rooms designed with sustainable passive design strategies, such as allowing air to come in from the outside through louvers, tracked the outdoor air well and maintained a healthier microbial landscape.

Q: What is bioinformed design?

Bioinformed design refers to a conscious approach to design that takes into account the impact of microbial ecosystems. It involves designing with specific types of microbes in mind, such as incorporating beneficial microbes on phones or in planes. The speaker believes that bioinformed design is possible and can have significant benefits for both human health and the environment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Invisible ecosystems made of bacteria, viruses, and fungi exist everywhere, including on our personal belongings and in our bodies.

• Designing these invisible worlds and understanding how they interact with our personal ecosystems can have profound impacts on our health.

• Through conscious and unconscious design, the invisible ecosystems in our surroundings, such as in buildings, can be structured to influence our health in unprecedented ways.