HOLISTIC HOMES

HOLISTIC HOMES are designed and built with a clear focus on healthy living – for the families living in a HOLISTIC HOME and the natural environment in which we all live.

HOLISTIC HOMES are built with green construction materials. These sustainable, reusable, energy-efficient materials maximize the health of the occupants and minimize the environmental impact of construction. Green construction materials include

• Wood
• Flooring
• Paint
• Concrete
• Windows

Using sustainably harvested wood sources is a key practice in green construction. Of course, it’s not enough just to say it. It’s important to walk the talk. The Forest Stewardship Council provides documented proof that wood was harvested with certified sustainable methods.

Urea-formaldehyde (UF), used in the majority of plywood, composite panels, and sheathing materials, has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, as “carcinogenic to humans”. UF off-gases into the air, and is then inhaled by a home’s occupants.

To help ensure cleaner air and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and airborne illness, green construction uses formaldehyde-free plywood, composite panels, and sheathing materials. Healthy flooring greatly improves the quality of indoor air by reducing pollutants, reducing the impact of building materials on the health of the occupants.

Minimizing the use of toxic solvents, coatings, and glazes is critical in the construction of HOLISTIC HOMES. In recent years, public health initiatives have highlighted the importance of healthful internal environments – the insides of homes where we spend much of our time. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main culprit – VOCs are associated with asthma, allergies, and numerous respiratory diseases. Also, VOCs are a major contributor to low-level atmospheric pollution and may be one of the factors in the development of climate change.

Green construction materials use VOC-free paints and VOC-free construction adhesives. These VOC-free materials meet recommended emissions standards such as those listed in California’s Section 01350 testing protocol, ensuring good air quality and protecting human health. Many paint manufacturers now use zero-VOC or near-zero-VOC paints in a range of finishes. The Green Seal Paints GS-11 is an important industry standard.

In addition to using nontoxic materials and sustainably harvested materials, green construction also looks to incorporating recycled materials. Concrete is the most widely used consumer material – after water – worldwide. Concrete is an aggregate of sand and gravel, bound together with cement. But the manufacture of cement consumes a lot of energy and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing cement with fly ash (from coal-burning plants) is an environmentally sound practice. And, recycled glass may provide an ongoing source of sustainable aggregate. Concrete can be produced using environmentally friendly ingredients – “greener” concrete.

Green construction materials are low-emitting and low-maintenance – they reduce the amount of pollution released inside the house. Low-emitting windows focus on another issue – energy efficiency.

In the past, windows have been a major source of energy loss. With advances in green construction, windows can now be even better insulators than the walls of the house. One solution is to manufacture windows using energy-efficient glazing. These low-emissivity (“low-e”) windows prevent heat from flowing in and out. Low-e windows – transparent to visible light and opaque to infrared radiation – provide substantial energy savings.

The benefits of a HOLISTIC HOME extend beyond its immediate boundaries. Protecting the local and community environments is accomplished by using recycled materials and reducing construction and demolition waste. HOLISTIC HOMES are landscaped for energy and water efficiency and use renewable energy technologies.

Using green construction materials and improving a home’s energy efficiency may yield life cycle savings of more than ten times the initial investment. Investing in a family’s health and well-being naturally aligns with long-lasting financial benefits and environmental stewardship.