Custom Designed,
Energy Efficient
& Healthy Homes
Indoor air quality is now recognized to be a major health issue and a large contributor to the high incidence of asthma, among other ailments. It has been said that the indoor air in a new home is worse than the outside air in a big city on a smog day due to all the chemicals that are introduced both during the construction and in furnishing a new home.
That is why we believe strongly in properly designed and balanced ventilation systems and in using materials and finishes with little or no toxicity to them, for example:
• linseed and other natural oils as sealers on wood and concrete,
• bee's wax blends,
• water-based finishes,
• no-VOC paints and sealers
• formaldehyde-free materials and insulation,
• renewable materials such as bamboo,
• recycled content materials
These materials that tend to be healthier and more natural also have a much lower embodied energy than their less healthy counterparts.
Another aspect to a healthy home is its comfort level and how it relates to our emotional health. A home that is well air sealed during construction is tighter, without the draughtiness we associate with older homes. And with a properly sized and balanced ventilation system, has a high level of indoor air quality with a temperature that stays where you want it without the swings. A home that is built solidly, and with craftsmanship, gives a sense of calm and security - it doesn’t rattle every time the wind blows.