Healthy home design is as important as ever, with many homeowners spending the vast majority of their time indoors. According to studies and reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. Concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher inside than is typical outdoors, the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association writes for the Houston Chronicle. With this backdrop, the Remodelers Council discusses the importance of healthy home design and ways it can be achieved for homeowners.
In an average home, the pollutant level is normally low when people first enter the house, or after effective ventilation. However, after an extended period of time, daily activities can raise the level of humidity and carbon dioxide to unhealthy levels that can cause headaches, dizziness and sleepiness and can contribute to long-term health issues such as asthma due to mold in the home.
Ventilation and shading can help control indoor temperatures. Ventilation can improve the quality of indoor air by removing or diluting indoor airborne pollutants coming from indoor sources. Shading reduces temperature and humidity which is also conducive to a healthy indoor environment.
How can you best “bring the outside in?” Skylights in conjunction with vertical windows remove polluted air from the home and promote an overall healthier environment for the inhabitants.
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