As Americans, we spend 90% of our time indoors, Shouldn't our built environment be healthy and our way of life sustainable?

Personal Health

With asthma and lung ailments on the rise, especially among children, more attention is being paid to the problem of indoor air pollution. In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) re-designated formaldehyde-based glue as a proven human carcinogen. Formaldehyde glue is commonly used in the plywood and particle board manufacturing process because of its low cost and fast production time. The huge disadvantage to consumers is that it continues to “off-gas” for years. Additionally, many of the chemicals that are known to off-gas from conventional building materials have not been tested or rated for toxicity. They remain an unknown. Wouldn’t you like to know what your family is breathing?

Another consideration is water management. Water treatment plants are burdened, and fresh water quality is challenged from various natural and industrial factors. In the Treasure Valley, naturally occurring arsenic is found in well water, and is at the upper limit of acceptability from municipal water supplies. The problems with the bottled water solution have been well publicized of late. It turns out that the easiest way to have safe drinking water is also the most cost effective: A solid carbon filter system performs better that expensive reverse osmosis systems, and is inexpensive to operate. Think about what you drink.