Portrait of a Healthier Home

In the traditional neighborhood development of Fairview Village, Ore., there resides a home that is significantly different from the status quo. It's healthier.

Before you laugh, ask yourself this: Where will you spend most of your time today? If you're like most Americans, you'll spend about 90% of your day indoors. What does that mean for your lungs? Plenty.

Since the 1950s, home builders have used more and more manufactured products in construction and remodeling. Plywood, adhesives and a host of home furnishings such as carpets and drapes, are manufactured with thousands of chemicals.

Since the 1970s, our interest in energy efficiency has prompted us to seal our homes more tightly. That's good, but we need to take the same interest in how we ventilate our homes. An inadequate exchange of fresh air--made worse by common allergens and the irritants and toxins found in many building materials, home furnishings and household products--can result in an indoor breathing environment that is two to five times more polluted than the outdoors.

Indoor air pollution can trigger health problems like fatigue; dizziness; nausea; eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation; allergies; and asthma. Indoor air quality is blamed, in part, for the dramatic increase in the last decade of asthma, which affects nearly 15 million Americans. Other ill health effects can include heart disease and cancer.

We don't want to scare you; we just want to point out what can be done to avoid health problems caused by indoor air pollution.

The first step is to educate yourself. That's where the Healthier Home comes in. The Oregon-based firms of Cecil Smith Construction and Columbia Design Group, along with dozens of donors and volunteers, built Oregon's Healthier Home to demonstrate to consumers and builders that the choices they make in building materials and techniques, as well as interior decoration, have an impact on indoor air quality. And that can have a significant impact on your family's health.

Cecil Smith, the contractor who built the Healthier Home, specializes in building techniques that improve indoor air quality. He has spent the last 12 years building and remodeling healthier homes, and offers practical advice to homeowners and tradespeople who wish to create a healthy environment. Smith and most indoor air quality experts would agree that the four steps to achieving healthier indoor air are:

1) avoid pollutants by eliminating the problem at the source;
2) seal those potential pollutants that cannot be avoided;
3) use mechanical ventilation; and
4) filter what you cannot eliminate with steps 1, 2, and 3.

These four steps to a healthier home are outlined in more detail in Building a Healthier Home, published by Columbia Design Group as part of their Healthier Home Plans program. The book, along with input from the contractor, was used as a resource guide when selecting the building materials and techniques to construct Oregon's Healthier Home.

Let's take a stroll through the Healthier Home and learn about the materials and techniques that make the home a place where you can breathe easy.
The materials used to construct Oregon's Healthier Home and finish its interior, as well as the furnishings and the products put in the house, were safer and less toxic than those usually used. Steps were taken to discourage biological pollutants, such as dust mites and molds, by controlling indoor humidity sources. An airtight envelope was created to seal out pollutants and to provide for energy efficiency and complete control of the indoor environment. Every room of the house received a constant supply of fresh, filtered air while the stale, moist air was removed.

Work started from the ground up, beginning with the...

FOUNDATION
Moisture-proofing the home's foundation was critical to prevent mold growth. The house was situated so that rain water would drain away from the foundation. A continuous 6 millimeter polyethylene vapor barrier was installed on the ground and crawlspace walls, as well as a perforated footing drain system that drains to an exterior slope.

FRAMING
Inside Oregon's Healthier Home solid wood joists and I-beams were used instead of composite wood products, such as laminated beams, plywood and OSB (Oriented Strand Board), which often contain urea-formaldehyde glue binders. An exterior grade plywood--a type of composite plywood--was used for the home's sheathing, because it was completely sealed off from the home's interior by the air-barrier insulation system.

DUCTWORK
Washed sheet metal ductwork throughout the home's interior was sealed at all joints with a Polyken aluminum foil tape to prevent dust and pollen from entering the ductwork and circulating throughout the house. Insulation was installed on the outside of the ducts. (Never install insulation inside the ducts, where it can contaminate the air stream.) Additional cold-air returns were installed throughout the house to provide better heat distribution and reduce pressure-induced problems. All floor registers were sealed during construction to prevent dirt and debris from entering the duct system. After construction was complete, all the ductwork was cleaned to remove any particles.

INSULATION
Oregon's Healthier Home features a state-of-the-art air-barrier and insulation system called Icynene, which instantly expands to fill every cavity with a flexible foam. This water-based product contains no formaldehyde or chlorofluorocarbons. It is also resistant to bacteria and fungus. Because it acts as an air-barrier, Icynene insulation creates an air-tight envelope within the home. This minimizes the dust, pollen and contaminants that can enter from the outside, and makes indoor air quality more manageable. Icynene helps Oregon's Healthier Home stay comfortable in both winter and summer by controlling air and moisture movement, which also means better energy efficiency.

VENTILATION
Adequate ventilation is one of the most critical components to a home's indoor air quality. A whole-house mechanical ventilation system means that every room in Oregon's Healthier Home is continuously supplied with fresh, filtered air, while the stale air is removed. The constant air exchange helps control excessive humidity within the home, which can lead to mold and dust mites.

Installed upstairs, an energy recovery ventilator provides a timed fresh air exchange. It also helps reduce heating costs by recovering 80% of the heat energy from the stale air and transferring it to the incoming fresh air.

FILTRATION
Respirable particulates are extremely small, below one micron in size (for comparison, a human hair is about 80 to 100 microns in diameter) and can bypass the body's defenses and lodge deep in the lungs. Particulates include many of the triggers for allergies and asthma, such as smoke, smog, auto exhaust and dust mite feces, and can also carry toxins such as lead and pesticides.

In houses heated by furnaces or heat pumps, a filter can be added to clean the air. The filter that usually comes with the furnace--the kind that can be replaced for less than a dollar--is only intended to protect the furnace, not clean the house air.

A good option is to replace the furnace filter with a medium-efficiency media filter. These cost about $12 at home stores. A medium-efficiency filter will do a good job of removing particulates like pollen, dust, animal dander and mold spores. The filters are available in a variety of sizes so they can fit into the slot for the furnace filter.

Electronic filters are relatively expensive, around $500, and their performance may not be significantly better than a medium-efficiency media filter. Electronic filters do an adequate job as long as they're cleaned monthly, run continuously and tuned annually. But if not properly maintained, their performance drops significantly and they produce ozone. Ozone is a hazardous air pollutant, and ozone-generating devices are not recommended in any occupied space.

The best filtration option is to install a multi-stage air filtration system similar to the one featured in Oregon's Healthier Home.

It features a prefilter, an activated carbon filter that captures and reduces VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and a 95% efficient HEPA filter that removes particulates and dust mite allergens from the air.

People with high sensitivity to formaldehyde may want to consider installing a permanganate filter, since activated carbon filters don't effectively capture formaldehyde.

WINDOWS
The windows in Oregon's Healthier Home are solid wood with maintenance-free aluminum-clad exteriors. Energy-efficient windows not only reduce heat loss, but also prevent condensation and mold growth. All of the bedrooms in the main house have windows on two sides of the room for good cross-ventilation and lighting.

FURNACE AND WATER HEATER
Oregon's Healthier Home uses a ground source heat pump that collects, through a closed loop of high-strength, thermal plastic pipe, the geothermal energy stored in the ground from the sun. It will reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 60%, while producing no emissions.

FIREPLACE
Though everyone finds a fire cozy and inviting, a fireplace can be a significant source of indoor pollution if combustion gases permeate the home. Wood smoke can trigger asthma episodes, as well as irritate healthy lungs. For Oregon's Healthier Home, a sealed combustion gas fireplace was located on an exterior wall with combustion air vented directly to the outside.

HUMIDITY CONTROL
Too much moisture can cause you and your family serious health problems. Mold, mildew, dust mites, bacteria and viruses all thrive in humid environments. They cause swelling, staining and destruction of paint, wood and furnishings. Many insects, such as silverfish and saw bugs, will thrive in a humid environment.

In Oregon's Healthier Home, a forced air heating/cooling system with a three-stage filter bank and an air-to-air heat exchanger (HRV) ventilation system was used. This whole-house ventilation system provides a controlled amount of filtered, fresh air to all rooms under all conditions, and exhausts stale, moist air and pollutants out of the house.

CENTRAL VACUUM
Oregon's Healthier Home features a central vacuum system with the collection canister located in the garage. Unlike conventional household vacuums, which emit dust and fine particles back into the air, the central vacuum system removes dust and deposits it outside the home's breathing environment. Locating the collection canister in the garage and venting the exhaust outside means that the dust and allergens remain outside the home even when you change the bag and clean the tank.

FLOORING
Oregon's Healthier Home features hardwood floors and tile throughout. The hardwood floors have a waterborne finish that won't off-gas irritating chemicals or toxins. Smooth surface flooring such as wood, tile and marble is easy to clean with water, which is important in battling dust mites. Use a non-toxic, water-based adhesive to install linoleum flooring.

Solid wood was chosen for the sub-flooring on the first floor, and exterior-grade plywood for the second floor because it does not contain the urea-formaldehyde found in the more commonly used particleboard and interior-grade plywood. Exterior-grade plywood does contain a phenol-formaldehyde binder, but it's a low-emitting formaldehyde.

CARPET
No wall-to-wall carpeting was used in Oregon's Healthier Home because carpet can harbor dust mites, mold, bacteria and irritating particles. Also, some carpeting contains a variety of synthetic chemicals added to improve certain characteristics such as stain resistance. Other carpets contain fire retardants, fungicides and pesticides, all of which can off-gas.

Instead, washable area rugs were used. When choosing area rugs, stick to natural fibers with natural backing instead of latex, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.

PAINT
All paints contain varying amounts of VOCs, organic chemicals that readily evaporate into gases at room temperature even after the paint is dry. For Oregon's Healthier Home, low-VOC primers and paints were chosen for both the interior and exterior of the house. Low-VOC paints are virtually odorless during and after application.

CABINETRY
The kitchen and bathroom cabinets in Oregon's Healthier Home are made with exterior-grade plywood, not the commonly used particleboard that contains urea-formaldehyde. The exterior-grade plywood contains a phenol-formaldehyde binder, a low-emitting formaldehyde. Solid wood or metal are also good choices.

TILE
Tile is another smooth surface that is easy to clean and does not harbor dust. Stone tile flooring was used in the utility room and marble tile in the bathrooms of the main house. The grout was sealed to prevent mold growth.

COUNTERTOPS
A formaldehyde-free underlayment was used for the countertops, and a special nontoxic, water-based mastic was used to apply laminates. Where tile was used, Hardie-backer underlayment was installed, and a sealer was applied to the grout to prevent mold growth.

CAULKS, ADHESIVES, JOINT COMPOUNDS
Low-VOC caulks, adhesives and joint compounds were used throughout Oregon's Healthier Home.

TRIM AND MOLDINGS
Wood trim and moldings made from composite materials or plastic may contain formaldehyde or other irritants. Solid wood was chosen instead and low-VOC primer, paint and sealer were used.

DOORS
The doors are solid wood or steel, rather than formaldehyde-emitting particleboard or pressed wood, and interior doors were undercut for better air circulation.

APPLIANCES
Proper ventilation of fuel-burning appliances is an important consideration in any home. A poorly tuned furnace, water heater or gas range can emit pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. All ranges should have a mechanical exhaust hood located directly above the cooking surface to exhaust moisture, grease and combustion byproducts directly to the outside. For Oregon's Healthier Home, only electric appliances were chosen.

FURNISHINGS
Reierson Design & Renovation selected furnishings based on their aesthetics and impact on indoor air quality. With good design, a healthier home can be warm and inviting, while reducing indoor air pollution. More than anything else, Oregon's Healthier Home looks and feels good.

Flat-weave upholstery fabrics were chosen rather than the deep-nap or fleecy fabrics that can harbor dust mites. Natural fibers such as cotton and linen were used throughout the home. Synthetics that may contain formaldehyde or irritating dyes and chemicals were not used.

Accessories were easy to keep clean and kept to a minimum to provide fewer harbors for dust mites.

Solid wood or metal furniture is preferred to particleboard or pressed-wood products, which contain formaldehyde that can off-gas and cause irritation. Antiques, which are often solid wood, were used throughout Oregon's Healthier Home.

WINDOW TREATMENTS
Easy to clean and keep dust-free are the keys to window treatments. If you choose blinds, the vertical style is easiest to keep dust-free; horizontal blinds can be wiped with a damp cloth or vacuumed with a special attachment.

ASTHMA ROOM
One room of Oregon's Healthier Home was designed especially for a child with asthma. It features washable bedding, curtains and a throw rug over a hardwood floor (as well as no stuffed animals), to limit the accumulation of dust and dust mites, which can trigger asthma attacks.

LANDSCAPING
In order to avoid the use of pesticides and to keep watering and fertilizing to a minimum, native Northwest plants were chosen for Healthier Home's yard. Taking allergies and pollens into consideration when selecting landscaping plants is an obvious choice for some homeowners, but the plant you are most sensitive to may be only a yard away! That's why it is important to install a ventilation system that filters dust and pollens from the outside air before it is introduced to the indoor breathing environment.

HOUSE DESIGN
Oregon's Healthier Home plan from Columbia Design Group blends the best from the past and the present to create a healthier indoor environment for your family. The design features timeless materials such as wood, stone and other safer, less-toxic building materials, while incorporating the latest in technological advancements in energy efficiency and convenience. As a recognized leader in Healthier Home design, Columbia Design Group understands that the quality of your home design affects the quality of your life and future health.

The flexible floor plan reflects today's more casual lifestyle with a vaulted Great Room that opens to the kitchen for relaxed interaction. The formal dining room acts as a swing room and can be converted into a den or home office to conform to the homeowner's needs. The master bedroom is located on the main floor for easy access.

The detached garage prevents noxious auto fumes from seeping into the house, and the apartment above makes a great guest suite or rental property. Unlike traditional houses, the access to the crawlspace is located outside of the building envelope to prevent mold spores and other soil gases from leaking into the house.

Overwhelmed? Don't be! You can improve the indoor air quality of your home with a few simple steps. Let's go through them, room by room.

Living Room: Remove your shoes at the door to reduce tracked-in dust. Don't allow smoking in your home. Use a central vacuum system or choose a HEPA-type vacuum with good filtration. Avoid furnishings and materials that contain urea-formaldehyde, such as particleboard and synthetic fabrics. Choose low-VOC paints and finishes. Install a carbon monoxide detector if you have a fireplace, a woodstove, a gas range, or heat with oil or gas. Avoid soft and fleecy furniture.

Kitchen: Install and maintain a vented range hood; use it when cooking and for 30 minutes after you're done. Choose non-toxic alternatives to household cleaning products. If you do buy toxic products, use them in well-ventilated areas. Get rid of cockroaches and other pests with non-chemical methods.

Bathroom: Install an exhaust fan with a timer; use it when bathing or showering and for 30 minutes after you're done. Fix water leaks promptly. Clean tiles and grout frequently.

Flooring: Use hard, smooth floors such as wood, tile or linoleum. If you must have carpet, never install it directly over concrete.

Basement: Take staining, painting or paint stripping projects outside. Make sure vents, heating and cooling systems, air filters and duct work are cleaned regularly. Check and clean your furnace filter monthly and have gas or oil furnaces serviced annually. Keep your basement dry and free of mold and mildew. Dry wet laundry immediately. Vent your clothes dryer to the outside. Don't hang-dry your clothes in the basement or outdoors.

Bedroom: Remove wall-to-wall carpeting and use washable area rugs instead. Keep furry pets outside as much as possible, and out of bedrooms and carpeted areas at all times. Wash all bedding weekly in hot water (130šF); put mattresses and pillows in allergy control covers.

Garage: Never leave a car or lawn mower running in a garage that's attached to your home. When building your home, build a detached garage or carefully seal common walls between the house and garage so they are airtight.

If you're looking for a healthier home plan, go with the pros. Columbia Design Group of Portland, Ore., designed Oregon's Healthier Home (Plan CDG-2159-H); they offer many more healthier home plans where that came from! To see other plans by Columbia Design Group, go to HomeStyles.com's "Search Home Plans" page and enter "CDG-" in the "Know your plan number?" area at the bottom of your screen. Then click on the "Find my dream home!" button. Happy hunting!

Source: Oregon's Healthier Home.

Exterior photography by Philip Clayton Thompson Photography
Interior photography by John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography