Health and eco homes
I’ve just been reading an article on asthma – Asthma, the Environment and Yoga by fellow GreenMe blogger Cait McCarthy and this got me thinking about one of the main reasons for building a genuinely eco-friendly home. I wrote a bit about this last year, on Healthy Buildings which offered some ideas on things to avoid in a new build, but what about the things which are beneficial to our health?
Allergies … Some people see natural building as a personal act of global citizenship, a way of doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion; for others it is part of a private search for an alternative lifestyle. Not everyone considers natural building to be a matter of choice – for those with extreme chemical sensitivity it can be an absolute necessity. Some people are so sensitive to the toxins found in many modern building materials that they simply need to create a place where they can achieve a greater sense of wellbeing.
Natural Materials… Resources like stone, wood, straw and earth, are not only non-toxic, they are life-enhancing. Clay, one of the most useful natural building materials, is also prized for its ability to absorb toxins and restore health. Natural healing traditions rely on it heavily, for both internal and external applications. Also, don’t forget about the clean-air benefits of passive solar heating and ventilation compared to the systems which typically rely on combustion.
Healthy Work … The natural building process is healthy too, in lots of ways. When you build with straw bales, cob, adobe, or rammed earth, the whole family can get involved. A building site free of power tools is a safe and supportive environment for children to learn valuable skills. Or invite your friends and neighbours to experience the old-fashioned ways of building a home. Offer them food and lessons in natural building skills in exchange for their time and energy. Everyone will learn something to use on their own project, and have a lot of fun into the bargain.
While building eco-homes in this way you’re also building a different kind of social structure where local communities depend on themselves to achieve their basic needs, instead of handing over their power to governments and big uncaring businesses. When those of us who are relatively affluent use a smaller share of the Earth’s resources, more becomes available to the less privileged and to future generations.
Related Articles
Related posts:
- Green Living Better for your Health and your Pocket
- Building Sustainable Walls.
- Cars, eco homes and landscapes
- Eco Friendly Plaster
- Green walls
- Why should I build sustainably?
