Healthy Homes

Asbestos in building materials is a health risk for humans when disturbed and particles become airborne. Protect the air quality of your home by identifying and mitigating risks of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral with excellent heat resistance and durability, leading to it being widely used in construction…

Ecohome's little sister, Ecohabitation in Quebec, tested eco-friendly detergent-free laundry soap balls, read our review and see the results in the Ecohome Building Guide. While walking through a home show not long ago I came across a product that has always intrigued me, the laundry wash ball, some kind of magic…

Smart homes can help reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses by reducing the number of surfaces we touch in our homes, and for most things we do touch we can zap those with UV light and sanitize without chemicals. Coronavirus or COVID-19 is changing how we live, obliging us to practice social distancing and…

We explore the oft-touted notion that air-purifying house plants remove toxins & improve air in homes. As much as we like a little interior greenery, we're forced to conclude it's a whole pile of compost in the making. Do house plants clean indoor air? The idea that house plants filter and clean indoor air is at…

Finding the right high-efficiency home air filter for furnaces & ventilation systems is essential for keeping indoor air clean, healthy & protecting us from allergens, animal dander, pollen, mold spores & maybe worse. What are home air filters used for? Air filters on air handling units such as furnaces, HRV and ERV…

Formaldehyde-free & Eco-friendly MDF alternative interior finishing wood products such as Rice Stalk MDF panels are coming to the USA & Canada. Zero VOC to improve the indoor air quality of homes and protect our health. Formaldehyde-free MDF made from rice - available at distributors in USA & Canada There is a…

The practice of putting polyethylene vapor barriers in houses was intended to keep them dry, but it ends up keeping them wet. It's time to explore alternatives and to reconsider how to keep homes cool in summer. Vapor Barrier + Air-Con = Damp Moldy Walls So here's a little known fact that most HVAC installers won't…

Basement mold and mildew can easily be avoided with better designed walls. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from drying. That musty, moldy basement smell that we have come to accept as unavoidable, is actually quite avoidable. The solution is really quite simple - stop…

Normally Homes & Indoor Spaces Should be Ventilated with Outdoor Air - But What Should we do when It's Smoky Outside? How to protect our Health when our high efficiency Homes have HRV, ERV or Central Aircon Systems. How to protect indoor air quality from smoke during wildfires in homes with HVAC? As we move towards…

Long-term exposure to high levels of radon gas in homes is the second greatest cause of lung cancer after smoking - that's 25000 preventable deaths a year from radon exposure - has your home been tested. Why is Radon a Problem in USA & Canada? Radon gas is cancer-causing radioactive, invisible, odourless and…

Natural paint is non-toxic, cheap and easy to make & provides a beautiful texture to walls. Ditch the VOC's & improve interior air quality for your family with these tips on making Eco-friendly natural paint at home. Making Eco-friendly paint at home is easy when you know how If you want to decorate your home with…