Have you read Solviva or the Independent House, both available through
Mother Earth News. I think you'd like them. I also have plans for a
self-sustainable home where you grow your own fish and vegetables in the
house with you. Let me know if you're interested in this and I'll try to
email the plans, or look up the word bivalvia on a search.
Thanks,
Deanna
Nirvana Enterprises
Become an internet marketing professional &
earn up to $100 per day while you're learning!
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Owens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 5:37 PM
Subject: [ecopath] The Healthy House & Ecological life
> I'm reading a book called "Healthy by Design" which is full
> of interesting comments about how a healthy environment
> is created. My personal views differ from the book in
> some areas so consider the following a marginal attempt
> to summarize and be objective.
>
> What is a Healthy Home?
>
> A healthy home is one that restores the purity
> of nature and avoids the disadvantages of being
> close to nature. Most of the modern toxins
> present in building materials, products, water
> supplies, and the air are eliminated.
>
> How bad is the average house?
>
> Real bad! Most of the toxic substances are not
> detectable by our senses because they are new
> and we have not evolved any need to recognize
> them. The effects are usually long term and
> difficult to connect back to the source. A few
> people are sensitive and can spot some of problems.
>
> How can we organize our thinking and fix our homes?
>
> The three major areas of concern are:
> 1. What is best for human health?
> 2. What is resource efficient (materials)?
> 3. What is energy efficient?
>
> At this point the book goes into a discussion of design
> and how to address the above criteria. Ventilation and
> moisture are talked about along with material selection.
> There is too much material to summarize. Some of the
> specific recommendations are:
>
> *Avoid particle board and most plywood (glue).
> * Look for paints meeting California and New Jersey
> air quality standards.
> * Use prefinished materials.
> * Avoid all soft plastics.
> * Avoid soft coverings and furniture. This includes
> carpets.
> * Insulate with loose cellulose fiber or fiber glass.
> * Wood, ceramic, or stone floors are best.
> * Avoid plastic bath fixtures
> * Use copper pipe or polyethylene pipe for plumbing.
> * Sealed combustion heaters for water.
> * Air, water, filters.
>
> How about keeping a house clean?
>
> * Baking soda
> * Unscented soaps
> * vinegar
> * borax
> * hydrogen peroxide
> * sodium carbonate
>
> What products and appliances should be avoided?
>
> * photocopiers produce ozone and dust.
> * aerosol air fresheners are ineffective and many pollute.
> * all combustion devices which are not sealed and vented.
> * woodstoves are polluters.
>
> What are the symptoms of a toxic house?
>
> The most common symptoms are allergies. Next, comes
> frequent headaches, followed by a long list of minor
> complaints.
>
> How about older houses?
>
> Newer building materials out gas far more than older materials.
> The problem with older houses are in things like lead paint. The
> paint is ok if we can seal it off. Usually, it is the remolding
> process that exposes heavy concentrations of toxics in older
> houses.
>
> ----
>
> OK, that is a sampling of the book. My questions would be:
> Does this design process create a world of fragile people who
> survive only by staying in sealed environments. Is this a
> sustainable approach and does it separate us from nature?
>
> In polluted areas will this create an inequality where
> the poor die off quickly and the rich are not motivated
> to find global solutions? (I've got mine, the rest of
> the world just needs to get rich and buy it).
>
> My bias is that this book puts too much emphasis on the perfect
> environment for people and needs a slight shift towards
> earth friendly. If we always put the health of people first
> we will eventually destroy ourself by short sighted thinking.
>
> Anyway, the book "Healthy by design" is a great book and worth
> reading.
>
> jeff
>
>
