Green building materials and your health

The beauty of environmentally friendly products is that their benefit is not confined to one facet. The greenest materials are not only good for the earth and your community, but first and foremost for you and your family.

Have you ever had unexplainable headaches after a weekend painting project? Traditional building materials can emit harmful chemicals into your home, and not just the initial few days after installation.

Some chemicals continue to produce low levels of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, that you and your loved ones breathe every day. Some of the side effects include headaches, slight nausea, throat irritation, coughing, and light-headedness.

Some building materials are carcinogens, which can lead to cancer after long-term exposure. Harmful VOCs are found in paint, adhesive, caulk, solvent, varnish, carpet, vinyl, insulation, particleboard, cabinets, and furniture.

What you can do:

1. Install passive ventilation.

Discuss passive ventilation design with your architect and contractor. Even if you live in the city, the air outdoors is very likely less toxic than indoor air, especially if the home is new.

 Passive ventilation allows fresh air to sweep out the VOCs, and it also allows you to cool your home naturally when the season allows. Passive ventilation can be simple or complex, but it depends only on mother nature, meaning your home is healthier, more comfortable, and costs less to keep it that way. 

2. Choose low-VOC products.

You might be familiar with low or no VOC paints, but you can also obtain low-VOC finishes and sealers. Nearly every major paint line now offers a low or no VOC paint for just a few extra dollars per gallon.

Because of its affordability and prevalence throughout your home, choosing a "green" paint gives you the most bang for the buck, and is an easy place to start improving the health of your home.

3. Avoid products with urea formaldehyde.

Urea formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it may lead to cancer after long-term exposure. Urea formaldehyde is present in cabinets, wood flooring, particleboard, plywood, and furniture. Talk to your contractor about alternative choices.

You may have to make a "lesser evil" choice, such as using exterior grade plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) in the subfloor, which emit less harmful VOCs than the usual plywood used for subflooring.

Formaldehyde is also found in insulation, which easily becomes airborne. Choose recycled cotton insulation (often from denim), which is treated for pest and fire resistance.

4. Prioritize green choices in flooring.

Most homeowners select flooring for practicality, comfort and style, but many traditional flooring choices are loaded with high levels of VOCs. Green flooring choices provide all the practicality, comfort and style, but without the headaches:

• Natural linoleum is made of all natural products like linseed oil and pine resin which naturally repel bacteria. It has no VOCs, and is installed with a solvent-free adhesive. Upkeep is easy, and today's manufacturers can help you design a custom look. Do not confuse natural linoleum with vinyl, which is sometimes labeled as linoleum.
  
  
• Cork flooring is soft on the feet and beautiful to the eyes, and some companies use recycled materials. Surprisingly, cork naturally repels insects, mold and microbes. Ask the installer to use solvent-free and non-toxic adhesives and finishes and no PVC backing.
  
  
• Bamboo is a renewable resource, but producers often use formaldehyde as a binder. It makes a gorgeous floor, slightly softer than hardwood, and easy to maintain. Solid bamboo can be refinished many times, making it a long-term choice like hardwood.
  
  
• Hardwood flooring is not a sustainable material, but it lasts and lasts and lasts. Use reclaimed wood flooring and your choice is even greener. Just make sure there is no urea formaldehyde or VOC-laden materials used in the installation or finishing process.
  
  
• Tile, stone and concrete can be green choices in some ways. Although tile is energy-intensive to produce and the clay and stone are not renewable materials, these products will last the life of your home with proper care. You can purchase recycled tile, or tile with recycled materials, like terrazzo. Ask installers to use low-VOC adhesives, grout and sealers.
  
  
• Carpet choices can also be green, if you choose natural materials like wool, organic cotton, jute, sea grass, sisal, or recycled materials. Be sure to inspect for low VOC ratings and don't ignore the backing or padding.

5. Buy used furniture and salvaged materials.

If you can't afford to buy the green choices in new cabinetry or furniture, consider buying used. Used and salvaged materials have off-gassed for years and are a healthy option for your home, in addition to answering the environmental call to reuse materials rather than adding to the landfill.

Used and salvaged goods are much easier on your budget, as well, and if you do your research right, you can find quality, vintage pieces that add charm to your home nothing on the current market can rival.

Choosing green building materials for your health can cost a bit more than traditional materials. Traditional sources are prevalent and less expensive to produce, but as more homeowners demand eco-friendly materials, products will become more obtainable.

Choosing green building products is a worthy investment. These are the building blocks of your home that will likely remain in place during your lifetime, your children's lifetimes, and beyond. Not only will you be doing something good for the environment, but for your children, too.