A comprehensive breakdown of the critical elements of your home’s design that can affect your health and well-being. Note that this information is provided for educational purposes.
Naturally occurring gases can build up in the soil under your home and can pose a risk to your health. Some you can't see or smell.
The one of primary concern is radon, found in every home, which can penetrate your foundation and go undetected. With extended exposure it can cause lung damage. Methane, a flammable gas, can build up from rotting trash or sewer lines below your basement and penetrate through cracks in your foundation, as can carbon dioxide and other heavy gases. Chemicals and fuel that have been spilled into soil can release gases, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), into your home which can pose a risk to your health when inhaled.
Water vapour can also be present in soil underneath houses. As moisture in the soil evaporates, it can make its way up into basements and foundations as a gas, causing issues. Proper drainage, basement waterproofing, foundation sealing, dehumidification systems, and proper ventilation systems are crucial for managing these.
Proper moisture management is crucial in a new home for several reasons:
Here are some particulates that may be of concern in a new-build home:
Here are 5 reasons why indoor humidity should be between 35-55% relative humidity (RH):
Many products used to make furniture, carpets, paints, cleaning supplies, and more contain VOCs or “volatile organic compounds.” These are chemicals that easily become gases at room temperature.
When these products are new, they haven't had a chance to fully off-gas — that is, release their VOCs — before they enter the home. So, when you bring a new couch or paint your walls, it's going to release more VOCs.
You can't see or smell many VOCs, but they get into the air you breathe and many products continue releasing lower levels of VOCs for months or years after. So, the longer you have furnishings or products, the less they off-gas.
Even ordinary products like that new plastic shower curtain or air freshener off-gases. Opening windows, using exhaust fans, and letting new things like furniture air out before bringing them inside can help reduce VOC exposure. But know that virtually all new products off-gas at least a little, adding to the indoor air pollution in your home.
The ventilation system in a new home can have significant health implications if not properly designed and installed:
Getting a whole-house ventilation system designed properly, checking that local exhaust fans meet code requirements, and doing post-occupancy indoor air quality testing ensures new homes have good indoor air quality and support occupant health. Paying attention to ventilation early on may prevent health implications down the road.
Installing a high-quality, well-maintained HVAC filtration system (with a rating of MERV 13 or higher) will also greatly improve the indoor air quality and reduce health risks. Be sure to change filters regularly.
While municipal water typically meets regulatory standards, it receives minimal treatment compared to well-designed home filtration systems that remove a broader array of contaminants for improved purity and taste.
Here are some key benefits of installing a water filtration system in your home:
Filtered water simply tastes and smells better by removing chlorine, minerals, metals, and other contaminants that cause unpleasant tastes and odours.
Filtration reduces or eliminates many harmful contaminants like lead, mercury, cysts, asbestos fibres, and more that may be present in home water supplies. This makes water better suited for drinking and cooking.
Filtering out sediment, rust, sand, and scale particles protects faucets, sinks, and appliances like dishwashers, coffee makers, and washing machines from damage and buildup.
Having filtered water right from the tap is more convenient than purchasing bottled water or pitcher filters that need frequent replacements.
Getting filtered water at home is more economical on a per litre basis compared to buying bottled water. Filtered water can also have a positive impact on the life cycle of your appliances.
Reusable water filter systems greatly reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions compared to disposable plastic water bottles.
Removing minerals like calcium and magnesium leaves water soft, which helps skin and hair feel smoother and retain moisture better after washing.
Home filtration provides security knowing the health and safety of your family is protected with each glass of cleaner water at home.
Beneficial exposure to natural light has been shown to have wide-ranging benefits for health, mood, productivity, and healing. Where practical and appropriate, we recommend enlarging or adding windows to benefit your health and well-being.
Human-centric lighting mimics the natural changes in daylight over the course of a day. This type of lighting uses different colours and intensities to support your body's circadian rhythms.
During the day, human-centric lighting emits a cooler, bluer light. This helps energize you and keeps you alert, just like natural daylight. In the evening, the light transitions to a warmer, low intensity glow. This weaker, orange hue helps your brain start releasing melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy.
This contrast between daytime perkiness and nighttime sleepiness when using human-centric lighting helps regulate your 24-hour internal clock. It can improve sleep quality, focus, and energy levels.
Designing a home with pleasant, peaceful acoustics can have benefits for the mental, emotional, and even physical health of residents.
By minimizing irritating echoes and outside noises, pleasant acoustics lower stimuli that trigger stress responses.
Peaceful, quiet acoustics allow deeper, undisturbed sleep critical for physical and mental health.
Clear, echo-free acoustics aid conversation and social connections that reduce isolation.
The ability to work, study and think without disruptive noise enhances focus and mental acuity.
Calming natural sounds can stimulate dopamine and serotonin to boost positivity.
Research shows calming acoustics can help lower blood pressure and accelerate healing.
The ability to escape to quieter rooms renews mental energy and resilience.
Gentle, harmonious sounds promote relaxation to unwind from daily stresses.
Pleasant acoustics make a home feel more comforting, uplifting, and welcoming. 31
