HEALTHY HOMES - A Must For Our Children's Futures!

Home may be where the heart is but it's also where you'll find dust mites, paint, asbestos, mould and mildew, off-gassing synthetic carpeting, plywood with heavy formaldehyde concentration, radon gas and mould spores -- indoor air pollutants that can cause problems ranging from sneezing and skin rashes to severe breathing problems, cancer, and even death.

Healthy homes are part of the "green building" movement in this country - We don't want office buildings that make us sick, and we don't want a home that makes us uncomfortable or ill.

A few of the improvements in the house building industry include the fact that lead based house paints have been banned since 1980, and asbestos (used for insulation and as fireproof wall barriers) since 1986. Urea formaldehyde based insulation can no longer be used in houses, and formaldehyde emissions from urea formaldehyde bonded hardwood plywood are far lower than it was 10 years ago.

More homebuyers want electronic and non-electronic high-efficiency air cleaners. And where some builders used to give their new house customers a lovely houseplant as a thank you gift, many give a duct-cleaning gift certificate as a thank you instead, since so many people want their ducts cleaned before they move in.

In addition to duct cleaning homeowners wanting healthier houses are opting for hardwood floors in the bedrooms, which can be easier to clean and have no out-gassing like synthetic carpeting, and one-piece fiberglass tub enclosures that eliminate mold and mildew.

Chemically sensitive individuals or others with allergies may opt for cabinets made from solid wood and galvanized steel, stainless steel kitchen countertops with welded and polished seams, central vacuum systems, outdoor exhaust, and copper water lines that are joined with lead-free solder.

The myth that building a green house can cost a great deal more is not true. Some homes don't cost anything more; others can add an additional 25%. But balance that with the money spent on the medical and insurance expenses for problems caused by an unhealthy home and the costs are well justified.

It has been said that we shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us. When we consider that the average North American spends at least 90% of life indoors, the significance of this statement becomes apparent...

Original article at Healthy Home