We offer full-service environmental consulting to a wide a range of clients concerned about building and occupant health. Whether you rent or own, or you are about to move or build, our service packages are designed to match your needs.

• Allergies & Asthma
• Before Moving In (Buy or Rent)
• Commercial Buildings (Existing)
• Commercial Buildings (New)
• Electromagnetic Sensitivity (ES)
• Gardeners
• Healthy Building Design & Construction
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
• Parents
• Water Leaks and Mold Clearance Testing
• Water Quality Testing

 Allergies & Asthma

Do you have a sneeze room?

Our clients with allergies may suffer worse symptoms in their home or office compared to other buildings or outdoors. Allergy sufferers want to know how to minimize allergens in their existing building, or they want to check a building for allergens before signing on the dotted line. Allergies range from minor irritations (i.e., dry eyes or runny nose from pollen or dust mites) to very dangerous reactions (i.e., asthma attack from mold spores). HBI Allergen Inspections identify allergens and asthma triggers found indoors. Through Sampling & Lab Analysis of the air, dust, and materials in a building we measure many common indoor allergens including cat, cockroach, dog, dust mites, formaldehyde, mold, mouse, pollen, rat, etc.  HBI inspectors do not use fragranced soap, shampoo, detergent, or deodorant that may cause you discomfort or affect inspection results.

 Before Moving In (Buying or Renting)

Does that “new house smell” worry you?

It is common to paint or add new carpet before selling or leasing a building. Unfortunately, that “new house smell” is probably harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC) out-gassing from building materials, furnishings, or finishes. These airborne chemicals can cause respiratory problems and headaches for sensitive individuals. Another common misfortune is for someone allergic to cats or dogs to move into a “clean looking” building only to find their allergies flare up due to prior pet occupancy. Pet hair can easily be swept up, but dander and saliva can remain despite rigorous cleaning. Clients about to sign on the dotted line are making a long-term decision based on only a short time in the building. Most “Building Inspectors” are trained to evaluate common household physical problems such as leaky faucets and broken countertops. Our Healthy Building Inspections target what really counts by evaluating how the building supports or hinders occupant health. There are extensive governmental databases that keep track of known pollutant releases. Our Right-to-Know Site Information reports search these databases and provide you with valuable information about your immediate environment. Know what is in your new home or office building before making a long-term commitment.

 Existing Commercial Green Buildings

Customers complaining of bad smells?

Absenteeism and worker productivity suffering?

As consumers become more aware of indoor environmental quality they are avoiding unpleasant aisles in grocery and department stores. The business costs of sick buildings include diminished sales and reduced worker productivity. No matter how you add it up, healthy buildings pencil out. If you know there is something wrong with your building, if your customers are particularly sensitive, or if you’re shopping around for a new business location, we may help improve your bottom line. Healthy Building Inspection Services include air and water quality testing, moisture and mold inspections, electromagnetic surveys, etc.  We identify pollutants indoors and provide user-friendly reports summarizing findings and suggesting practical mitigation strategies.

 New Commercial Green Building Consulting

Want a high-performance green building or renovation project?

We have worked on more than 25 LEED projects and also consulted with three full-service hospitals pursuing Green Guide for Health Care certification. Our Design & Construction Consulting Services include facilitating eco-charrettes (early design opportunity sessions), plan and specification reviews, Healthy Material Research, IAQ Management Plans, contractor trainings, Construction Waste Management Plans, and project management for third-party certifications (e.g., LEED, GGHC, Build-It-Green).

Healthy Building Air Quality Testing can also satisfy LEED Indoor Air Quality Credit 3.2 (IEQ3.2) requirements for after construction / pre-occupancy air testing. Designing and building are significant investments. HBI can help you build smart and healthy the first time and save you money and more.

 Electromagnetic Sensitivity (ES)

Feeling fried by your cell phone?

Bedside lamps, clock radios, TVs, cell phones, plugs, and extension cords are all common internal sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Some clients suffer allergic symptoms from exposure to EMR, and others suffer non-specific symptoms such as sleeplessness, irritability, muscle tension, and headaches. Electrical sensitivity (ES), also known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) or electromagnetic sensitivity (EMS), can be a debilitating illness in the high-tech 21^st century. Healthy Building EMR Surveys detect and measure internal and external sources of EMR affecting your building. We use a testing protocol developed in Germany and approved by the Institute for Building Biology & Ecology. Our user-friendly reports include detailed findings and strategies for mitigation. Don’t suffer unnecessarily from electrical sensitivity. There are simple and affordable steps you can take to reduce electromagnetic radiation in your living space.

 Gardeners

Starting a garden and worried the soil might contaminate your food?

You can invest good energy, elbow grease, and organic seeds into your garden, but if the soil is contaminated you may still be in harms way. Soil in developed and agricultural areas is commonly sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. Without a history of the land and soil quality testing it is impossible to know what pollutants lurk underfoot. HBI offers Right-To-Know Database Research to evaluate historic uses and sources of pollution from beyond your site boundary, and Soil Testing to determine if specific contaminants are present. Soil testing can also be used to make strategic fertilizing decisions.

Healthy, Green Building Design & Construction

Want to go beyond green building – to healthy building?

Third-party green building ratings systems have helped build consumer awareness of sustainable development. These point-based systems are generally good at revealing obvious elements of high-performance design and construction, such as site planning, water and energy conservation, sustainable material selection, and general Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). But no single system includes every potential element, and most systems are woefully inadequate for protecting occupant health. HBI acts as a third-party consultant to your design and construction team. We work closely with your design team (e.g., architects, engineers, landscape design) to ensure your goals for sustainability are included in design, and we work with your General Contractor to ensure the good design is carried through during construction. Your family deserves a healthy building, let HBI help you get there. 

 Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Looking for a safe place?

If you are allergic or react negatively to many pollutants at low levels you may be suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Of all my client categories, I have learned the most from working with people with MCS. They are at the far end of the sensitivity bell-curve and are usually sensitive to fragrances and airborne chemicals at very low levels. It is not uncommon for those with MCS to also suffer from Electrical Sensitivity. Usually a holistic Building Biology Environmental Assessment is performed to evaluate materials, air, water, and electromagnetic climate of the building. Findings are reported and there are commonly several low-cost, high-return mitigation strategies that offer relief from some symptoms. HBI inspectors do not use fragranced soap, shampoo, detergent, or deodorant that may cause discomfort or affect inspection results.

 Parents

Sick buildings are contagious.

Children are especially vulnerable to environmental pollutants. If you are preparing a nursery and want to create a healthy indoor environment, or if your child is already showing symptoms at home or school, then HBI may be able to help. Our Design & Construction Consulting services are geared toward creating healthy indoor habitats. Healthy Building Inspection services are holistic and cover a wide array of building contaminants. From air quality and water quality, to mold and electromagnetic radiation, HBI can detect and measure what pollutants are present and make suggestions on how to create a healthier environment.

  Moisture Inspections and Mold Clearance Testing

Got mold?