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A national initiative supporting affordable housing leaders who are improving human health by using less toxic building materials.
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Our Plastic Buildings - the New Driver of Fossil Fuel Demand
The idea of a “plastic building” might bring to mind Barbie DreamHouses or Lego towers, but probably not the real life spaces we occupy every day. However, plastics have a long history of use in construction and are increasingly being used in a wide variety of building products.
Read MoreHomeFree Resources Make Healthier Choices Easy
Whether you've been a fan of HBN for a long time or you have just been introduced to our work, there’s a good chance you might have come across our HomeFree program. This brief primer will get you up to speed with our latest resources and actionable steps you can...
Read MoreA Tenant’s Call for Safer, Healthier Housing
Earlier this year, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) awarded Healthy Building Network a grant to work alongside a community-based organization called Renters United for Justice to reduce toxic chemical exposures among vulnerable individuals. Read about one tenant's story and how a new cooperative is making strides to create safer...
Read MoreThe Illusion of Plastics Recycling: Neither Just Nor Circular
The production and use of plastics is predicted to soon be the largest driver of world oil demand. While plastic building products are often marketed in ways that give the illusion of progress toward recycling and a circular economy, the reality is that virtually no plastic building materials are recycled. ...
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Simona Fischer
Architect and Associate, MSR Design
Simona is a registered architect, sustainable design professional, and associate with MSR Design. She leads the implementation of MSR’s Material Library Entry Criteria and develops tools and processes to integrate sustainable design into the natural workflow of architectural practice. Simona received a Master of Science in Sustainable Design in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of Minnesota. She will co-chair AIA Minnesota’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) in 2021-22.