August is usually a quiet month for us, but with increased heat, rain, and extreme weather in many parts of the country and world, the built environment has become more important than ever. The data is sobering:
- 2025 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record, potentially surpassing 2024.
- Prolonged and severe heatwaves have affected regions like South Asia (India, Pakistan), the Middle East, Southern Europe, and the Southern U.S., with temperatures exceeding 50°C (122°F) in some areas.
- Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to extreme rainfall events. Early 2025 saw catastrophic flooding in Southern U.S., and parts of East Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
- Cities like Miami, Shanghai, and Lagos faced repeated flash floods due to a combination of heavy rain and rising sea levels.
- Parts of the Amazon, Southern Africa, and the U.S. Southwest are experiencing prolonged droughts, worsening water scarcity.
Our homes will need to become increasingly resilient to more extreme and frequent changes in weather, while providing a toxin-free refuge where we can regain and retain our health. From creating sleep sanctuaries to planning more sustainable cities, the Building Biology Institute has been at the cutting edge of healthy homes for almost 40 years. I encourage you to dive into our free articles and downloads, and then consider signing up for a few courses yourself.
August’s Course of the Month is Electric Lighting: Options and Health Impacts. Click here to download a free fact sheet and save 50% on the full course.
In three months we will hold our first in-person seminar at our new home, the Art of Living Retreat Center in the beautiful mountains of Boone, North Carolina. IBE 212: Electromagnetic Radiation will be a deep dive into all things EMR. Newly rewritten and revised by co-instructors Mitch Marchand and Rob Metzinger, assisted by our in-house building nerd Stephen Collette, 212 will include theory and hands-on lab work with state-of-the-art meters. For more information and to enroll, click here.
Wishing you a happy and healthy August.
Erik Rosen, Executive Director