| thought your family and children were so safe | | | | go in for exterior grade plywood only instead of |
| inside the home environment cozily protected | | | | particleboard/fiberboard that contains toxic glue |
| from potent health hazards! But did you know | | | | mixed with wood chips. |
| that the source of asthma, lead poisoning, and | | | | · Avoid vinyl and wall-to-wall carpet flooring. Vinyl |
| many such types of chronic health conditions | | | | floors contain poly vinyl chloride (PVC) a harmful |
| could lie within your home environs? | | | | chemical while fully carpeted floors accumulates |
| According to recent survey it has been revealed | | | | dust, dust mites, molds, etc. all of which are |
| that your family especially the kids are threatened | | | | potent causative agents of allergy, asthma and |
| with major health risks if the design/architecture, | | | | other chronic respiratory problems. Instead use |
| built and maintenance of your home is improper. | | | | healthier floor alternatives as cork, solid wood, |
| So while planning out a new home or a home | | | | marmoleum, tiles, bamboo, and so on. |
| remodeling/renovation make sure that your home | | | | · Always make use of strictly low-odor and |
| planner or design architect makes use of healthier | | | | non-toxic paints containing highly reduced amounts |
| home building techniques and technology. This shall | | | | of VOCs such as paints comprising of just clay |
| ensure that your family and kids residing in such | | | | and pigments. Paints are usually loaded with high |
| healthy homes are much more healthier and safer! | | | | quantities of lead. Avoid using such paints |
| You might incur higher expenses while | | | | completely. |
| constructing a healthy and environmental friendly | | | | · Avoid using resins and glues that contain |
| home as compared to normal homes. But the | | | | formaldehyde especially urea formaldehyde. |
| health and life of your children and family is | | | | · To build the foundation, walls and roof panels |
| supposed to be of utmost importance above | | | | of a healthy home make use of thick, natural, |
| anything else! | | | | hygroscopic and breathable plasters and stuccoes |
| So while you are busy with your home plans or | | | | such as clay-treated wood chip placed over sand |
| home renovation ideas spare a thought on the | | | | and fine gravel instead of using foam boards or |
| following points to build a healthier and safer | | | | poly vapor barriers. This renders efficient indoor |
| home. | | | | humidity control thus preventing the formation of |
| · Budget your home plans keeping in mind that | | | | molds. In this way you can also avoid the |
| you have to use non-toxic or less toxic building | | | | accumulation of harmful radon gas inside your |
| materials that are a bit more expensive than | | | | home. |
| general building materials. | | | | · Avoid building bedrooms/living rooms over the |
| · General building and construction materials | | | | garage space of your house. Toxic gasoline fumes |
| (particularly glues, paints, varnishes, insulators, etc.) | | | | can outgas from the fuel tank of your car and |
| are usually loaded with toxic volatile organic | | | | infiltrate into the bedrooms. |
| compounds (VOCs) such as urea, formaldehyde, | | | | · Install carbon monoxide testers/detectors |
| lead, asbestos, carbon monoxide, etc. derived | | | | especially near furnaces, fireplaces, and garage |
| from petroleum. If inhaled continuously these | | | | areas of your home. Radon testers must be |
| toxins accumulate in the body leading to serious | | | | essentially placed in the basement areas of your |
| health problems. | | | | home as this harmful radioactive gas occurring in |
| · While constructing cabinets and countertops or | | | | soil can seep into your home through the |
| for sheathing, sub-flooring and roof decking the | | | | foundation. |
| ideal choice is solid wood but if it is too expensive | | | | |