What's a Healthy House?

A “healthy house” is a dwelling wherein construction materials, furnishings, and operating systems do not contribute to the ill health of its residents. It goes without saying that we all want our homes to be healthy; unfortunately, some common household products, appliances, structural materials and energy improvements have had unforeseen negative consequences. In fact, indoor air pollution from combustion appliances and household products can be two, five, or in some cases even up to 100 times higher than pollution levels found outdoors (US Environmental Protection Agency).

Some of the health concerns related to building function and materials include reactions to pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides used in and around the home; chemical sensitivities to substances found in paints and solvents, including lead-based paint; reactions to chemicals in building materials and furnishings, such as formaldehyde in carpeting or glues in fabricated wood lumber; reactions to mold caused by damp conditions; and human-caused pollution from smoking.

Sustainable Resources Center addresses healthy housing in several of its programs. SRC’s Energy and Indoor Air Quality program staff can conduct whole house diagnostic tests to look for air infiltration and ventilation rates, combustion safety tests to ensure that heating appliances are operating safely and are properly vented, indoor air quality tests to measure carbon monoxide, and tests of temperature, relative humidity, and building material moisture content to discover possible mold sources. SRC’s lead hazard reduction program can identify lead sources throughout your home.

Contact us for more information on SRC’s Healthy Housing diagnostics program.

Links of interest on healthy housing.