At EEBA’s 2025 Summit, one of the most forward-looking sessions—“Healthier Homes Begin with Healthier Building Materials”—showcased how builders, manufacturers, and innovators are coming together to make healthier, more sustainable homes the new standard.
Moderated by Corey White of the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC), the session featured Paul Shahri (Ecomedes), Colin Harrington (Saint-Gobain North America), Andrew Guido and Andrew Bowerbank (Empire Communities), and Aaron Smith (EEBA). Together, they explored how data, transparency, and collaboration are transforming how we source and select materials for residential construction.
Transparency Drives Healthier Building
EEBA CEO Aaron Smith opened with a powerful reminder that home health begins with material health. After learning how toxins from 9/11 cleanup sites caused ongoing harm to responders, he became an early advocate for Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)—tools that now help builders and consumers understand what’s in their products.
“Healthier homes start with knowing what’s in the materials we use,” Smith said. “We spend 90% of our time indoors—it’s time we take a closer look at what surrounds us.”
Digitizing Data for Better Decisions
HPDC’s Corey White and Ecomedes’ Paul Shahri showed how digital tools are simplifying this process. HPDC standardizes complex chemical and product data, while Ecomedes integrates it into a searchable platform that allows builders to easily find products that meet health, sustainability, and performance goals.
“We’ve digitized the scavenger hunt,” said Shahri. “Now builders can make better decisions faster—and at scale.”
Manufacturers and Builders Leading the Way
Colin Harrington of Saint-Gobain North America shared how the company designs its products with both people and the planet in mind, screening every material against more than 50 global chemical concern lists before it ever reaches the market. That transparency data is shared openly through platforms like HPDC and Ecomedes, empowering builders to choose healthier options with confidence.
At Empire Communities, Vice President of Sustainability and Innovation Andrew Guido is proving that healthier, transparent materials can be successfully integrated into production homes without inflating budgets. His team modified a standard production model with 55 targeted changes—replacing toxic compounds, improving indoor air quality, and verifying every substitution. The result was a scalable, healthier home model that kept trades engaged and costs competitive.
Building on that foundation, Vice President of Building Science and Innovation Andrew Bowerbank introduced Empire’s Earth 360 Air project—140 pilot homes that take occupant wellness and resilience even further. Designed to meet the new ASHRAE 241 Standard for infectious aerosol control, these homes feature advanced ventilation systems capable of switching to “booster mode” to help prevent the spread of airborne illnesses. Each design also includes increased natural ventilation, smart energy systems, and carefully vetted low-emission materials such as plywood instead of OSB, which cuts formaldehyde exposure nearly in half.
“You can specify a healthier product,” Bowerbank reminded the audience, “but you still have to check the job site to make sure that’s what actually gets installed.”
Practical Steps for Builders
Panelists closed with simple actions builders can take today:
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Upgrade to MERV 11–13 air filters for cleaner indoor air.
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Use EcoMedes to compare product transparency data and certifications.
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Specify CARB2-compliant, no-added-formaldehyde cabinetry to improve indoor air quality.
Building a Healthier Future
As Aaron Smith summarized, “The future we all want requires materials that are accessible, understandable, and verifiable.” With new tools and shared data, healthier building is no longer a niche—it’s becoming the rule.