The Green Design Center

In this talk, Andy Pace (Green Design Center) breaks down the “healthy home” side of green building—why low-VOC doesn’t automatically mean healthy, how greenwashing shows up in product labels and certifications, and what actually matters when you’re trying to protect occupants (especially people with MCS / CIRS / MCAS). Andy shares his origin story—from a “water-based” epoxy job in the early ’90s that sent workers to the hospital, to launching one of the first healthy home supply companies in the U.S.—and why his guiding principle is still: “What good is saving the environment if we’re poisoning the occupants?”

00:00 Introduction to Andy Pace and Green Design Center

01:19 The Paradigm Shift in Construction

02:09 The Focus on Human Health

03:00 Company Products and Mission

04:13 Presentation Overview

05:38 The Origin Story: A Dangerous Epoxy Job

14:02 Helping Those with Chemical Sensitivities

17:54 Misleading Greenwashing Terms

20:41 Examples of Greenwashing in Products

25:50 The Degree of Green System

28:10 Healthy Home Attributes and Trends

29:27 Understanding VOCs and Indoor Air Quality

33:20 California Regulations and Product Safety

35:42 Building to Code vs. Building to Standards

38:19 Finding Reliable Information and Products

42:19 Mold Remediation Industry Issues

44:16 Off-Gassing and Its Factors

46:58 Baking Out a Building: A Debunked Theory

53:35 Understanding VOC Release and Migration

55:09 Healthy Home Trends Post-Recession

1:02:18 Microplastics and Endocrine Disruptors

1:03:07 LVT and Client Sensitivities

1:08:26 Carpet's Impact on Indoor Air Quality

1:11:17 Recommended Vacuums for Healthy Homes

1:12:38 Mineral Paint for Breathable Walls

1:15:56 Callowell for Mold Prevention

1:17:15 Assistance with Material Choices

1:17:59 Upcoming BS & Beer Atlanta Events