Sick Building Syndrome: How to Build a Healthy Place to Live
Building a new home, addition, remodel, or ADU? Keep your space clean with the right materials
When the world first heard of sick building syndrome (SBS) in the 1980s, we started seeking (and getting) answers. We learned how poor ventilation, toxic off-gassing, and bacteria breeding grounds could make us sick.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the public gradually became more aware of healthier alternatives to toxic paints, adhesives, flooring, and other building materials.
Although the term hasn’t been used as much lately, we are still aware of the toxins in our homes that can induce symptoms like itchy eyes, throat irritation, difficulty breathing, and hormone disruption. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “most indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building. For example, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, copy machines, pesticides, and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde” (EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4: Sick Building Syndrome).
Not to be alarmist, but we are far from the ideal of a healthy home for every family.
The good news: there are ways to reduce indoor air pollution. The key is to keep things clean from the beginning—starting in the design phase.
What Does “Green” Mean?
Just because a product is labeled “green” doesn’t mean it’s healthy. “Green” can mean it’s recycled, recyclable, or good for the environment in some other way, but it doesn’t always mean free of toxins like VOCs, formaldehyde, and phthalates.
That’s why it’s important to learn what’s really going into your home and weigh your priorities.
Two Ways to Keep Things Fresh
To truly keep things fresh in new homes, our designers and contractors approach the problem from two angles: healthier building materials and ventilation.
Healthier Building Materials
Building materials have historically been innovative at the cost of the environment and our health. Many building materials include ingredients that are on the Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List, a list of substances that are harmful to humans and the environment. Through the green building movement and programs like LEED and the LBC, the construction industry has started to improve their products and offer a look into what goes into our homes.
Our designers use Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), such as Declare labels, to create spaces that are healthy and safe. Similar to nutrition facts labels, Declare labels provide a summary of a product’s ingredients, origins, and environmental impact.
Creating a healthy building means checking ingredients. Here are some of the key areas we check and some tips to make sure your home is safe:
Walls: Some types of drywall can emit high amounts of VOCs. Wherever possible, use drywall that does not contain additives to kill mold. Choose joint compound (aka “mud”) with minimal or no VOCs, and avoid formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Make sure your drywall was made after July 2015, when a new federal law went into place that limits the sulfur content of drywall. Paint should be no-VOC or low-VOC. Your designer can also present options to limit the use of drywall in projects in favor of wood or other materials.
Adhesives, sealants, caulks: Avoid products that contain petroleum solvents, ethylene glycol, isocyanates, formaldehyde, phthalates and bisphenol A. To be considered “Low VOC,” a product for interior use should have a VOC concentration of 50g/L or less.
Cabinets and counters: Certified solid wood is a clean way to get beautiful cabinets. Avoid composites wherever possible, and make sure the glue is not urea formaldehyde-based. Natural stone is an excellent countertop; just check that the sealant and adhesives used carry a low VOC label.
Floors: Polished concrete, solid wood, natural tile, cork, and natural linoleum are all great options as long as you use low-VOC sealants. For carpets and carpet padding, wool and felt are clean options. Avoid chemical treatments for waterproofing or stain prevention.
Appliances: Avoid gas appliances, which put nitrogen dioxide (and sometimes carbon monoxide) into the air. Many cities require all-electric homes, and New Avenue specializes in all-electric, net-zero energy homes and ADUs.
There are many ways to build green and build clean, and each project will have unique considerations. Your New Avenue design/build team, made up of an experienced professional designer and a certified general contractor, will advise you in the best materials for your home or ADU. Our clients mean the world to us. That’s why we live to create energy-efficient, healthy homes.
The Ventilation Solution
A home should have seals in the right places for efficient climate control and ventilation in the right places to allow indoor pollutants to leave the building. It’s important to consider the outdoor space and how outdoor pollution sources might affect the home.
Ventilation can be achieved through doors and windows, an HVAC system, and infiltration through joints.
No matter how much you reduce the presence of VOCs in your home, there will always be a need to bring fresh air in and push polluted air out. Your design professional can advise you on the right solution for your home.
Expert Design and Construction Goes a Long Way
If you’re building new or renovating an old house, you have a great opportunity to create a clean, healthy home from the start. Schedule a free consultation call to talk with an experienced professional about your project. We’ll answer your questions and help you get started on creating a home that will be a launchpad for your life.
Questions about your project?
To connect with our expert design professionals and general contractors, contact us today. We’ll answer all your questions and help you get your healthy home project started.
