April Topic and Key Point
How Toxic is Your Home? Discovering Healthy Alternatives
April 12, 2006
(Click on the panelist's names to jump to their key points below.)
A panel of green building professionals will highlight the key issues of creating healthier homes. The panel covered improving indoor air quality by Mike O'Brien of G/Rated, healthy building by Cecil Smith of Healthy Home Builders, natural building by Ron Hayes of Eagle Creek Natural Building, and Magy Oriah Nock a homeowner who has successfully dealt with healthy home issues.
Afterward people broke into small groups to ask questions and talk with one another in more detail about the topic.
Key Points
Here's what our panelists think people should know about green materials for home interiors.
Homeowner
Magy Oriah Nock
Real Estate Broker, Prudential NW Properties
www.healthyoregonhomes.com
503 706-9627, mnock@prunw.com
Magy Oriah Nock is a homeowner who has successfully dealt with healthy home issues and now helps other people as a realtor.
1. Question everything and never stop asking for what you want.
It was my experience that by asking very specific questions even when contractors or physicians told me it could not be done that way, I would get what I wanted. If it is not working for you, ask for what will.
2. Use a Professional Home Inspection Addendum.
Use this when purchasing a new home if your concerns are with mold, or oil tank or asbestos. You can have it inspected or 12 other items of concern checked!
3. There is a range of product options available for a healthy home.
I had building materials tested for which ones would not impact my immune system. Then there is the other end of the spectrum of choosing materials that are low VOC or no VOC. What is your objective? Define how healthy you need or want to go? What are your concerns: children and mold, new baby and paint fumes or fire retardant in your mattress?
Indoor Air Quailty
Mike O'Brien
Green Building Specialist
Portland Office of Sustainable Development, www.green-rated.org
503-823-5494, mobrien@ci.portland.or.us
1. A healthy house is dry.
A dry house will be free from mold, and will have less dust mites, bacteria, viruses and other biological pollutants that depend on moisture. This will reduce chronic illness, like asthma and allergies.
2. Know the story behind products you use in your home.
Both homeowners and builders can choose safer products. Be curious about what a product is made from, and what it may bring into your house. Choose non-toxic products.
3. Don't let killers into your house.
- Don't smoke in your home, and invite smokers outside.
- Avoid combustion equipment that could emit carbon monoxide if it malfunctions.
- Keep radon out.
- Don't use synthetic pesticides.
Healthy Building
Cecil Smith
Healthy Home Builder, www.healthyhomebuilder.com
503-666-8746, cecil@healthyhomebuilder.com
Things to consider in your home:
1. Use less toxic building materials and techniques.
2. Use proactive measures to prevent mold in the building envelope.
3. Reduce and control EMF (electro magnetic fields) and EF (electric fields).
Natural Building
Ron Hayes
Eagle Creek Natural Building, www.buildnatural.com
503-314-3851, ronhays@buildnatural.com
1. A home should be a place where people can live healthy, happy lives.
A beautiful house constructed with quality and with aesthetically pleasing and healthy materials can enhance the well being of its occupants. Our homes should be a place where we can relax, pursue what is nourishing and allow us to embrace our family and friends.
2. A home should be built with healthy materials. A building material that makes some people ill, probably adversely affects everyone's health.
We don't have to experience environmental sickness to be affected by unhealthy building materials in our home. Exposure to toxic materials can have a detrimental impact on our immune systems and lead to an increase in colds and other common ailments. We may also be affected on a long term basis and which can increase our susceptibility to cancer and other serious ailments.
3. A home made with natural materials such as wood, stone, and earthen plaster will be more healthy and feel more alive.
Just as unprocessed organic whole foods are more healthy for our bodies, so are unprocessed natural materials in our homes. Most manufactured building materials, such as sheetrock, vinyl flooring, and processed wood (particle board, MDF, OSB etc.) contain a variety of chemicals that can outgas into our homes.
Homes constructed with real wood trim, cork and wood floors, tile counters and showers and earthen clay plasters create a more relaxing and alive environment to live in. Many building materials are manufactured to look good. Houses with natural materials feel good.