Other resource-efficient projects like New York's 4 Times Square office building, Atlanta's EarthCraft House and Village Habitat Design's cohousing conservation communities include such innovations as energy-efficient insulation, water and air filtration, or hydronic heating, aiming for healthy, nontoxic construction processes and buildings for humans and the environment.

CNN: Developer advocates 'spiritual' approach to building

In fact, she says, the air filtration systems in airplanes take out 99 percent of infectious material, far more efficient than the systems in most offices.

CNN: Business travelers exposed to health risks