While energy efficiency is a critical component of sustainability, its application must be guided by principles of health and beauty. This talk introduces the emerging design field of biophilia, the inherent human-nature connection, and show examples of building designs that embody both ultra-efficiency and biophilic design.

Tom Bassett-Dilley, AIA, CPHC®, is a leader in the world of low-energy, health-promoting buildings, presenting locally and nationally on topics of Passive House design, building science, Living Buildings, and green preservation. His firm, TBDA, designed the first certified Passive House buildings in the Chicagoland area, and he continues to lead the movement in Chicago and beyond.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx