HOW TO CREATE
A HEALTHY HOME USING BUILDING BIOLOGY PRINCIPLES
1.
Most important! A building site shall be free from natural and man-made
disturbances.
Before
you buy a block of land, check for the following: soil contaminants
(pesticides, industrial wastes, petrochemicals, asbestos and the
like), electromagnetic fields (adjacent buildings, powerlines –
underground or above), radon gas (more likely to be an issue in
granitic soils) and geopathic stress (underground water courses,
fault lines, geomagnetic lines etc). Radon gas is the second most
common cause of lung cancer in the USA. In order to create an energy
efficient and healthy home, you must also consider the topography
of the land, it’s vicinity to nearby structures (trees, buildings
and so forth) and the local climate as this will determine the type
of house that should be built here – not the other way around!
2.
Residential homes should be away from sources of air and noise pollution.
Homes
should be located at a distance from centres of industry and main
traffic routes. Air contaminants from nearby traffic include petrochemicals,
particulates and noxious gases such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon
monoxide all of which can contribute to respiratory and heart disease.
Noise from traffic, other people or industry can lead to insomnia,
headache and insanity!
3.
Use unadulterated, natural build¬ing materials with little or
no radioactivity that are sourced locally.
Traditional
building in various parts of the world used locally available, natural
materials because that was all they had to work with. The benefits
of this are twofold: low embodied energy and materials that have
adapted to the local climate which means it is more likely to last
for many decades. Local materials include timber, clay/earth, stone
or combinations of these. Most people are unaware of the risk of
radiation emanating from some building materials. Granite and some
marble products can be radioactive. The key to our future lies in
the selection of materials that are from sustainable sources, will
have a long life, be recyclable and not come at the cost of damaging
the environment.
4.
Indoor air humidity should be regulated naturally using materials
that ‘breathe’.
The permeability of building materials varies enormously. A material
which allows air diffusion will help to control humidity as well
as improve indoor air quality. The use of hygroscopic materials
will help to control humidity by absorbing water vapour in situations
of high humidity, which will then be released back into the atmosphere
when the humidity drops. This is particularly important in the ‘wet’
rooms of the home. This is why wood is the ideal material in countries
where it snows as it may absorb and release large amounts of moisture
thereby regulating the humidity levels in a room without promoting
fungal growth. Use of appropriate indoor plants should also be considered
to regulate humidity, decrease carbon dioxide levels and purify
the air.
5.
Allow for rapid drying out of new buildings.
There
is always a pressure for buildings to be finished and occupied as
quickly as possible. This can mean that materials like concrete,
do not dry out sufficiently before floor finishes are added. This
can result in excessive moisture causing a rapid deterioration of
flooring and carpet and the growth of toxic moulds.
6.
Buildings should be neutral smelling. Toxic vapours should be avoided.
New
buildings have high levels of volatile organic compounds from adhesives,
paints and building materials used in the construction of floors
and cabinets (such as MDF). Levels of airborne pollutants are generally
at their highest during construction and may persist for several
years.
7.
Design for a balance between heat storage and thermal insula¬tion
in living spaces.
There
is no one design which suites all climatic conditions especially
in Australia. There will always have to be an assessment of the
local weather pattern. Extreme dry heat during the day followed
by cold night’s will require thick walls to insulate during
the day at the same time storing heat to radiate to the inside at
night. On the other hand in a temperate climate a North facing window
should allow solar heat to be absorbed by a floor of high mass during
the winter day to be re-radiated at night. In summer the same window
needs to be screened to prevent heat gain during the day and the
high mass floor will help to keep the inside cool. The air and surface
temperatures of a given room also need to be optimised. The nature
of a material will affect the amount of heat energy it requires
to warm up. A material of high density such as concrete will require
a large amount of energy to warm it and will be slow to respond.
Consequently, it will always tend to be at a different temperature
to the air mass. This will have an adverse effect on the occupants
of the room as it may never feel “comfortable”.
Radiant
energy is the most effective form of heating. It can be from hydronic
wall panels or under floor pipes using a solar roof panel or direct
solar radiation into a high mass wall or floor. The key issues are
that it is from a natural resource and that it is clean and free
of pollutants.
8.
Provide natural light, and use illumi¬nation and colour in accordance
with nature.
In
light of the fact that we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, the
need to expose our saves to daylight is important especially in
the winter months. Homes and workplaces should provide adequate
levels to guard against Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression
and mood swings), balance our circadian rhythm (hormones) and for
healthy bones (especially in children). Furthermore, the colour
schemes we use can have a powerful effect on our psyche.
9. Preserve the natural (DC) electric and
magnetic fields and minimise exposure to man-made electromagnetic
fields.
Metal
structures in buildings particularly steel framed homes and reinforced
concrete can intensify and distort natural earth electrical and
magnetic fields. Furthermore the meter box as well as appliances
that draw a large amount of current such as the fridge and oven
will emit high magnetic fields. These should be located well away
from sleeping areas.
10.
Furniture should be low in embodied energy and selected on ergonomic
principles.
Choose
furniture made from sustainable resources, low embodied energy,
and reflects your personality. The design of the living spaces and
kitchen should be in accordance with ergonomic and feng shui principles.
11.
A water filter is not a luxury, it’s a necessity!
Like
air, water quality is something we all take for granted, but can
we afford to be so complacent? Melburnians often brag that they
have one of the cleanest drinking water supplies in the world. Theoretically
this assumption is correct if you drink it from the forested catchment
area. As this is not permitted, the chemicals that are consequently
added to ‘purify’ the water and the kilometres of mains
and domestic pipes through which it must travel, affect the quality
of water that ultimately comes out of your tap. Let’s look
at chlorine as an example. Chlorine is added to our water supply
as it is a strong antibacterial agent. In fact it is thanks to chlorine
that the waterborne epidemics of yester year are rarely a problem
in industrialised countries. However the amount of chlorine that
is added must be sufficient that it is still active by the time
it reaches your tap. In this way it can destroy most microbial agents
in the distribution (mains) system. In light of the research now
available on probiotics (bacteria in the intestines) and its important
role in human health, consumption of chlorinated water is of particular
concern with several studies linking it with bowel and bladder cancer.
Furthermore, chlorine is a strong skin and respiratory irritant
which is the reason why most people with chronic skin conditions
are worse with bathing.
12.
Occupants should not introduce health hazards into the home.
There
is no point investing time and money building a healthy home if
the occupants inadvertently introduce more contaminants. Alternatives
to conventional chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning products
and personal care items should be sought. For example microfibre
cloths are an effective way to clean the home without exposure to
toxic chemicals. Furthermore the simple act of avoiding shoes in
the house can reduce dust levels by 50%.
Like to learn
more? Refer to the Building
Materials and Building Design subjects in the Building Biology
course.
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