Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A 'Healthy Building' is one which is highly energy efficient, environmentally sound and addresses the health of the building's occupants. This is accomplished through the introduction of a range of techniques and technologies which combine to protect the quality of the indoor air stream. There are four basic principles which need to be taken into consideration in order to make your home 'Healthy'.

These Four Principles are:

• Sustainable and Energy Efficient Building Design:

  The choice of building products is done in accordance with sustainable ideals. Timber and other building products are chosen which are either from a sustainable source and/or are low in embodied energy in their manufacture. A highly energy efficient design is needed in order to achieve an acceptable level of control over the indoor environment. This benefits our natural environment and our health through reduced energy consumption and increased indoor temperature control.

• Elimination:

  eliminate (choose a 'friendlier alternative) or significantly reduce the introduction of products which may prove to be toxic to the environment and unhealthy for you and your family; eg. medium density fibreboard (MDF) which contains high levels of formaldehyde.

• Separation:

  If potentially unhealthy building products must be used within the building, separation techniques can be applied to separate it from the environment; eg. Formaldehyde containing particle board (MDF) can be sealed with laminate or paint.

• Ventilation:

  Proper ventilation is crucial in order to reduce the build-up of pollutants and moisture within a building and to provide 'fresh' air for the occupants. Asthma and allergy groups around the world state that ventilation of a home is needed to control the level of dustmite and moulds; two key asthma and allergy triggers. The American Lung Association advocates mechanical ventilation of homes to control these two asthma triggers and provide a healthy level of indoor air for the occupants.