The Healthy Home

A healthy home journey begins with a well-thought-out design, carries through construction and furnishing, and continues with diligent post-completion care. Ensuring good air quality is a crucial aspect of this process, impacting the well-being of its occupants.

Design Stage

In the early stages of designing your new home, consider the following factors to promote a healthy indoor environment:

• Site Selection: Choose locations with low radiation, clean soil, and minimal geopathic stress.

• House Orientation: Optimize window placement and natural light to enhance indoor air quality.
• Ventilation Planning: Account for prevailing winds and design for effective ventilation and exhaust locations.
• Landscaping: Integrate landscaping that promotes air flow and harmonizes with the local ecosystem.
• Neighboring Activities: Be mindful of adjacent properties and potential pollutants from marinas, airports, or industrial areas.

Construction Stage

Selecting construction materials that minimize off-gassing and VOCs is critical:

• Low-VOC Materials: Avoid materials like plywood, certain paints, waterproofing agents, glues, and stains that release harmful chemicals over time.
• Safe Alternatives: utilize safer, low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives whenever possible to maintain a healthier indoor environment.

Selections

The products and systems installed during construction significantly impact indoor air quality:

• Appliances and Equipment: Ensure gas stoves, heaters, fireplaces, and kerosene space heaters are properly vented.
• HVAC and Ventilation Systems: Invest in high-quality air conditioning and ventilation systems with HEPA and activated carbon filters.
• Insulation: Choose insulation materials that do not release harmful chemicals into the air.

Furnishings

Many furnishings contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the air:

• Furnishing Materials: Be cautious with carpets, engineered wood flooring, pressed-wood furniture, and upholstered furniture, as these may contain formaldehyde and other toxins.
• Product Safety: Review safety information to select furnishings that are both aesthetically pleasing and health conscious.

After Completion

Post-completion, various household items can introduce VOCs:

• Household Products: Cleaning supplies, printers, markers, correction fluid, solvents, air fresheners, hairspray, cosmetics, dry cleaning, and art supplies can all contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Maintaining a Healthy House

Implement these strategies to keep your house healthy:

• Eliminate:

  • Avoid installing VOC-emitting materials.
  • Limit bringing VOC-containing products into the house.
  • Reduce use and exposure to VOCs indoors.

• Reduce:

  • Buy only necessary amounts of products.
  • Avoid storing VOC-containing products.
  • Remove unused items regularly.

• Manage:

  • Ventilation: Use exhaust fans while cooking, bathing, and cleaning. Increase air exchange by opening windows and doors.
  • Air Filtration: Install HEPA filter systems and activated carbon filters.
  • Regular Cleaning: Maintain clean air filters and vacuum with HEPA-equipped vacuums. Follow product labels and recommendations.
  • Indoor Plants: Bring plants indoors to help remove toxins and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Selecting natural materials such as stones and wood can enhance your home’s aesthetics while promoting better health. Reconnecting with nature through your home environment can reduce stress and support overall well-being.

By integrating these practices into your design, construction, and maintenance processes, you can create a healthier, more harmonious living space that supports your well-being and connects you with the natural world.