WHAT IS A HEALTHY HOME?

A healthy home is one that incorporates healthy design elements, non-toxic building materials, and proper construction techniques. It "breathes", emits no toxic gasses, and is resistant to mold.

Homes are safer, more comfortable and require less maintenance. A healthy home is also more energy efficient and thus has much lower operating costs!

SHOULD YOU BUILD A HEALTHY HOME?

Presently, new homes are built with products and materials that are either made of, or have been treated with, a whole host of dangerous chemicals. BUT, you can now build the same home with high-quality, durable, non-toxic products and materials, at pretty much the same cost!

The U.S. Council on Green Building estimates that approximately 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are due to the construction and operation of buildings. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that the air pollution levels inside the average new home in the United States is 2 to 5 times worse than the air pollution levels outside. Indoor air pollution from dangerous (and often toxic) chemicals has been linked to the dramatic rises in childhood asthma and respiratory diseases, and chemical sensitivity in adults. Relatively few of the chemical compounds used to create or treat conventional building materials have been tested for their effects on humans and almost none for their effects on children. Many of the most dangerous compounds (e.g. pesticides, mildewcides, urea formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, chromated copper arsenate ) are commonly found in conventional building materials. The energy crisis we experienced in the early 70's lead to the construction of airtight homes and office buildings that keep heating and cooling costs down, but also trap these chemicals inside with us! Paints, carpets, insulation, caulking, adhesives, composite wood products, soil treatments, and fumes from natural gas appliances all contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, there are a number of natural VOCs and other toxins, like molds and radon, found in most homes due to poor design, construction & air tightness.

The question should really be "Why NOT build a healthy home'? If you could protect your family's long-term health and financial assets, without spending any more to build your new home, why wouldn’t you? Non-toxic alternatives to conventional products and materials are now produced by most major manufacturers, available everywhere, and cost no more to purchase. And mold is preventable, eliminating a potential threat to your family's health and your home's value. For these a other personal and financial reasons, we believe it makes no sense to build anything other than a healthy home.

Hemtec believes your home should be a sanctuary. It should be a safe, comfortable, inviting place to retreat from the stress and pollution of the everyday world. While it is challenging to build a home that is completely free of any pollutants, using Hemcrete will drastically reduce the toxins in your home by continually "breathing", thus trapping harmful carbon gases.

DOES IT COST MORE TO BUILD A HEALTHY HOME?

NO! For every $1000/year in energy savings you incorporate, your home increases in value by $12,000. AND, your home will sell 20% faster than a conventional home, according to various statistics. ADD to that the health and well-being of your family members and you have the best reasons to build a healthy, non-toxic home.