Latest Healthy House Information

Borax - an alternative to chemicalsBorax is a viable alternative to certain complex chemical compounds in the home.

Code for Sustainable HomesA healthy house must exist within its environment.

A Pattern Language - Towns Buildings ConstructionRather grandly, this book claims to be a working document for ‘a new traditional post-industrial architecture’.

Passive Solar HeatingThrough effective passive solar design we can harness the power of the sun in heating our healthy house whilst protecting inhabitants from excess heat.

Ecohouse - 3rd EditionSue Roaf, Manuel Fuentes, Stephanie Thomas ~ 2007, Architectural Press.

Clay Based Paint ~ A Healthy AlternativeA healthy alternative to traditional paints are clayed based paints.

Comments on Healthy House

On Clay Based Paint ~ A Healthy Alternative by Ramona Flick on September 30th, 2010
its has a beautiful livinq quality, my daughter has used this.

On Heating & Cooling by healthyhouse on September 15th, 2010
Not an expert, but I'd have thought a radiant heat source (such as underfloor heating) would be far better for your health than forced heat.

On Heating & Cooling by Diana on September 10th, 2010
Our 105 year old house has forced air heat, and I have allergy related asthma.

On Limit Mould Growth by Alexander on August 31st, 2009
Hello, not only Mould spores can be harmful to the health, but also gaseous metabolites, which are called MVOC (microbial volatile organic compounds) can have a toxic effect.

On Visitor Feedback by David on March 16th, 2009
excellent blog! I love some of the ideas you share to healthier sustainable living.

Code for Sustainable Homes

A healthy house must exist within its environment. We cannot approach the design of our healthy house appropriately without taking into account the sustainability of the house within the context of its immediate, national and global environment. The Code For Sustainable Homes (a publication of the UK government’s Department for Communities and Local Government) can assist us in this.

The aim of the code is to achieve improvements to levels of sustainability in home building and thus provide environmental benefits with a positive impact on climate change and a reduction in the environmental impact of building. Central to the code is the provision of a rating system for levels of sustainability. Overall, the rating system leads to the allocation of an overall one to six stars to communicate the sustainability level of a home. The star scoring is built up from scores in 9 categories:

1. Energy / Carbon emissions
2. Water
3. Materials
4. Surface water run off
5. Waste
6. Pollution
7. Health and well being
8. Management
9. Ecology

Materials, Surface water run off & Waste have a set level that must be achieved as a baseline set by the Code. Energy / emissions & Water have minimum levels defined for them that must be achieved. Points are allocated by assessment of a number of issues defined by the code within each category. From these points the overall star rating is derived.

Additional benefits are envisioned for builders in that the Code will provide a flexible mark of quality and direction in relation to future regulations and to home-owners through lower household costs, improved comfort, greater satisfaction in their living environment and generally more pleasant and healthier places to live.