One the fastest, and perhaps least considered segment of the disabled population are the elderly. The Census Bureau expects that by the year 2030 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65. However, with age comes a host of limitations such as the inability to open or close a window, turn on or off a water faucet, or not being able to hear a teapot whistle. With the increased design options available, designers can develop environments that support autonomy regardless of the diminished abilities that accompany the aging process.

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This monograph discusses the issues of diversity within the U.S. and how they can be handled in the design of healthcare facilities. Included are suggested ways to reflect societal views into interior design and discuss problems that can arise from translated signs and other words.

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Practical examples that bridge the gap between academic research and design practices, especially between the design fields and environmental psychology- Chapter outlines/objectives at the beginning of each chapter- A full-color art program of illustrations and photos- A glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter- End-of-Chapter summaries highlighting the information discussed in each chapter along with a bibliography of sources- Activities at the end of each chapter that will generate individual and group projects and class discussions, while teaching about important methodologies in the field- Instructor's Guide includes suggested syllabus for a 15-week semester or 45-hour lecture period, and instructional objectives, discussion questions, learning activities, and test questions for each chapter.- PowerPoint Presentation provides outlines and ideas for lectures; compatible with PC and Mac platforms.

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With the emergence of sick building syndrome in the 1970s and the current emphasis of Leadership Energy and Design Standards (LEED), many designers are becoming increasingly interested in the topics of health and sustainability. The 1970s fuel crisis prompted a trend toward tighter and more energy efficient buildings. Most of these buildings were constructed with windows that did not open and thus, no source of fresh air. The primary air exchange was provided through heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Also during this time, the ventilation standards for indoor air were lowered from 20 cubic feet per minute per occupant to five cubic feet per occupant. The unintended result was a multitude of unrelated symptoms among the occupants of modern, energy-efficient buildings. These symptoms became known as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), or Building Related Illness (BRI). The modern-day premise behind sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The concept has been adopted by many disciplines, including economic development, food production, energy, social organization, and human health and welfare. In this book, sustainability is examined from the perspective of sustaining human health as well as natural resources. The  actions we take to provide healthy and sustainable built environments requires much forethought and careful consideration of possible unintended consequences. After-the-fact learning is inevitable. Decreasing the number of these unfortunate incidences is the purpose of this book.

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