Breathing Easier: 7 Steps For Building a Healthy Home

Why all the buzz about building  healthy homes? What does it mean and why does it make a difference?

Building a healthy home is about selecting products and procedures that minimize the infiltration of irritating gases and reduce the particles in the air we breathe.

AN EFFECT OF A HEALTHY, GREEN HOME: To give you a real-world example of the difference a healthy home can make, the June 2008 issue of Builder Magazine included a short article about a 15-year-old girl named Brooke Madden. Brooke’s severe allergies to pollen sent the Madden family on weekly trips to the emergency room and caused Brooke to miss countless days of school. Steroid-based breathing treatments kept her from gasping for air, but the medication bloated her body.

While investigating ways to help their daughter, the Maddens learned about the EarthCraft House program (a green building and certification program out of Atlanta, Georgia). They sold their home and moved into an EarthCraft-certified home in Cumming, Georgia.

The Maddens’ lives have changed dramatically for the better since moving into their new green home. Brooke no longer needs the breathing treatments, reports Mrs. Madden, nor has she had to visit the emergency room. “She hasn’t missed school because of her breathing. She hasn’t seen an asthma doctor at all. It’s a huge, 180-degree change because she was so sick. We love our house, obviously.” Mrs. Madden says.

According to 2006 statistics from the American Lung Association, over 6.8 million children under age 18 have asthma, making it the leading chronic illness of children in the United States.

FEATURES OF A HEALTHY, GREEN HOME: Here are some of the products and features that can be incorporated into your new home to promote better indoor air quality (IAQ): (Fortunately, due to the green-home construction movement, these products are now readily available.)

• Low VOC paints or no-VOC paint. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals released into the air as gasses. About half the volume of a can of paint is made up of the chemicals (VOCs) that keep it liquid. This is why, believe it or not, that about half the volume of paint placed on your walls actually evaporates. The odor from traditional paint is caused primarily by VOCs; over the days it takes the paint to fully dry and cure, you’re inhaling those VOCs into your lungs. Low VOC paints – or zero VOC paints – emit very little or no odor.

• Central vacuum system. A central vac is a much more thorough and powerful product than a traditional vacuum. Research at the University of California, Davis, showed that a Beam® central vacuum removed allergens and reduced symptoms by 47 percent for nasal-, 48 percent for non-nasal-, 61 percent for eye-, and 44 percent for sleep-related allergies. The EPA has acknowledged this product as an indoor-air-quality enhancer.

• Low-VOC carpets. Some laboratories estimate that there are over 200 VOCs released by new carpet (not to mention the dirt and dander it accumulates in spite of frequent vacuuming). The Carpet and Rug Institute has developed the Green Label Plus certification in response to the growing demand for low-VOC-emitting carpet, pad, and adhesive products. All carpet from Shaw® or Mohawk® has earned this certification. If adhesives are used in the installation of the carpet pad, be sure they also are low-VOC adhesives. Better yet, when possible, avoid carpet altogether.

• Healthy insulation. Some types of insulation emit formaldehyde. This gas has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Insulation such as most spray foams, cellulose, or formaldehyde-free fiberglass products are healthy options. Owens Corning, CertainTeed, and Johns Manville all offer formaldehyde-reduced or free fiberglass insulation products.

• Certified formaldehyde reduced or formaldehyde free plywood and/or pressboard. Another opportunity to reduce the VOC formaldehyde is to purchase cabinetry, MICA tops, and adjustable closet systems made with certified formaldehyde-reduced or –free plywood or pressboard. Many cabinet manufacturers now offer this feature as part of their green cabinetry line. Ask your sales representative to explain the options.

• Sealed-duct registers. Having duct installers cover the duct system registers during the installation process keeps you from having to breathe construction dust that would otherwise accumulate in the system.

• Upgraded filtration products and systems. Filtration options offering various types and degrees of air cleaning include media, HEPA, electronic, ultraviolet, and hybrid products. Talk with your HVAC representative about your choices at the beginning of your building process to ensure the mechanical area of your home will accommodate the HVAC and filtration equipment.

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