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Tag: healthier homes

  • HPH245 : How do you create a healthy home? – with Elinor Olisa

    HPH245 : How do you create a healthy home? – with Elinor Olisa

    Elinor Olisa explains why her family’s health was always paramount to the decision making on this build.

    Interview with Elinor Olisa

    When Elinor and Born made the decision to self build, they realised they could create an environment that was a safe haven for their children, where they were free to live without restrictions as far as possible.

    “This house very clearly for us was going to be about the health and the future proofing. And in doing that, we can make choices that will be good for the environment, good for our bodies, good for our well-being when we’re in them.”

    Health considerations were fundamental

    Both boys have severe, life-threatening, anaphylactic allergies to a number of things, including wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, soya, pulses and oats. The severity of their reactions can vary according to their health and immune systems at the time, so it was very important to Elinor and Born that they create as healthy environment to live in as possible.

    Researching building materials’ impact on health was challenging

    Elinor and Born are used to researching online for clothes and products for the boys, and reading the fine detail to make sure they’re suitable. Both boys are allergic to wool and they have had to be careful to find breathable materials that wouldn’t irritate their skin.

    “So, we said we’re just going to do our very best to research every single product that comes into this build and do it in the same way that we would for any other item that we were sourcing for the children.”

    But when it came to researching building materials and interiors, they discovered it was much harder to find the information about how they would impact on health, particularly from UK companies.

    As a consumer, ask questions

    With the growing popularity and interest in gluten-free and vegan eating, and also tragedies we hear about of the impact that improper labelling can have on people with allergies, Elinor believes that it is now more acceptable than ever to be asking those questions about what is in the food, without being judged as picky eaters.

    When it comes to the construction industry, she believes that companies need to start being more transparent about their products and shouldn’t be able to sell items that have poisonous paints, glues and MDF.

    “The largest piece of learning that I took away from doing this build was to ask questions. It’s not to just assume anything. Don’t assume that because somebody is selling it, that this is something that is okay for you to take home and have. Do your research, take responsibility for it, and ask questions. Because I think by us as consumers asking questions of retailers, they will become more willing to label things better and to give you more honest answers about the make-up of their products.”

    Environmental sustainability was an important factor

    They were also very conscious on their build to be as environmentally sustainable as possible.

    “(We) hope(d) that we could make less of an impact, feeling thoroughly horrified by the amount of rubbish that our build did produce. We did start to look to second-hand products, and we did look for upcycled things and we did look at what we’d already got and thought, rather than throwing it away, what could we do to it that would make it fit this space.”

    Plants were chosen carefully

    The choice of plants in their home was given careful consideration. They would always check whether it would have a neutral, harmful or positive impact on the house, and there was plenty of useful information available online to help.

    They have used lots of plants indoors that improve the air quality, and usually avoid fresh flowers because of the pollen. In the garden they have plants that are bee-pollinated, which is more localised, rather than tree-pollinated, which can be more of an air-born irritant.

    “That said, having the garden, having the outside, our children go outside, they go to the park, they go to the playground at school, they go to the woods, they do all of those outside things. So, they’re going to come in contact with it. We live near a very busy road. There are all sorts of things we cannot possibly control. It’s just what we’re doing within our little, small environment here.”

    Passivhaus was an easy decision

    One option their paediatrician suggested was a clean air chamber for the children to sleep in, which in studies had shown high success rates at improving immune systems and asthma and allergy symptoms. Elinor and Born weren’t keen on the idea of a chamber for the boys to sleep in, but on hearing about MVHR units, they realised the concept could apply to the whole house.

    The plot was only available to families

    With a lack of success at finding a property to purchase, they made a successful bid for a plot of land in London. It came with a caveat that the people who were selling it, wanted a family to live on it. Elinor suspects without that caveat they would have been unable to compete against developers for it.

    Amendments were made to the previously approved design

    The plot was a back garden piece of land which already had planning approval. The approved house was cleverly designed to comply with the restrictions around height and size. They felt it was a beautiful design which took into account that they would need to dig down to create a family-sized home. They worked with their design team to adapt the original plans to suit their budget and lifestyle.

    Access restrictions determined build system

    A temporary right of way across another plot was the only way construction vehicles could access their site. And with that other plot also being up for sale they were unsure as to who would buy it or whether they would continue to be allowed access. The necessity therefore was to build the house as quickly as possible.

    Below ground they used concrete and above ground they used pre-fabricated, Passivhaus approved SIPs panels to help the build go up quickly.

    In hindsight Elinor thinks what they should have done was said they needed a specified amount of time to complete the build once they’d broken ground, rather than committing to their access running out on a date in the July. Fortunately they were granted longer access but it was an additional stress on the building process.

    Gaps in communication

    Elinor used Enhabit for the design and build of the structure, while doing the rest of the procurement themselves. While having that level of involvement did save themselves some money and give them control over the decisions, Elinor does see the benefits that having a company oversee the whole process would provide.

    Although their team all worked well together they did occasionally come across issues that seemed to fall outside of the remits of everyone involved.

    Lighting can impact on health

    Although lighting was not something they had given much thought about in previous homes, they employed a lighting designer on their project who was doing research into the benefits of light on health.

    Lighting was a concern for the basement area, with worries about whether they would have the feeling of daylight, but they have used biodynamic lighting which is a gentle and adaptable system. Across the building they have some feature lighting, and also general lighting.

    They are now aware of how much impact lighting can have on comfort within a space and how it can play an important part on health.

    Everyone feels healthier

    The family are loving being in their new home and are reveling in a sense of relief and achievement.

    While the impact on the boys’ allergies won’t fully be known until they re-take an allergy test, Elinor has noticed they are having far fewer reactions to things and the asthma attacks have reduced. As a family they are sleeping better and feeling healthier and happier.

    “If we were to give advice to anybody, it would be I think we can all make changes in our existing homes. You don’t have to build a house to do this. There are changes you can make in your existing home that can have a significant impact on your overall health.”

    Find out more

    Visit Elinor’s Healthy Heroes website

    Follow Elinor on Instagram

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Elinor Olisa.

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  • HPH178 : Natural clay plaster wall finishes – with Clare Whitney from Clayworks

    HPH178 : Natural clay plaster wall finishes – with Clare Whitney from Clayworks

    Clare Whitney from Clayworks explains how clay plasters are made, their applications and why we might choose them over other wall finishes.

    Interview with Clare Whitney

    Clare Whitney has been working at Clayworks since 2009. The founders of Clayworks were specialists in cob building, even writing a book about it, and used clay onsite as a sustainable building product.

    Clayworks now manufactures natural clay plaster, having spent two years creating a consistent and tested product that can be ready mixed and made available to anyone in the world at any time.

    Clay is an ancient building material

    Clay is one of the most naturally abundant minerals. Clare says that clay blocks and clay building methods are being rediscovered all around the world as a sustainable material with relatively low carbon intake. Clayworks focus on the application of clay as a plaster.

    Clay plasters finish the interior walls of buildings

    Clay plasters are a mixture of clay subsoil, aggregates and some natural form of fibre, with clay acting as the binder. Clay absorbs moisture, so water intake is critical; too much or not enough affects the consistency. Clare explains that Clayworks comprehensively researched different clay minerals to get the mixture absolutely right, so that the clay will not crack or “dust”.

    Clay plaster differs from other wall finishes in several ways

    Clare says it’s hard to describe the aesthetic, as you really have to see and feel and sense them, adding, “It’s a completely different feeling to walk into a room with clay plasters.”

    Advantages of clay plaster include:

    A different aesthetic:• The patina is earthy and very soft
    • A slight texture gives depth
    • Clay doesn’t set, so you can create patterns and textures
    More sustainable than most other wall plasters:• Clay is a naturally abundant raw material
    • It doesn’t have to be quarried
    • The processing of clay plasters is minimal
    • Apart from transport, there’s relatively little embodied carbon
    Numerous health benefits:• Clay plaster helps regulate the moisture inside a building
    • Helps mitigate allergies and asthmas
    • Helps offset the effects of formaldehydes and indoor pollutants
    The robustness of the material:• The product is scientifically tested
    • Proven finish and durability
    • Transportable and widely available

    Clay plasters work with any type of construction

    Clay plasters are now used all over the world in cities and in steel and modern buildings. However they have typically been used a lot in straw bale constructions and buildings with a lot of timber, due to their moisture-absorbing properties, and also in Passivhaus and other buildings where sustainable building products are key.

    Furthermore, clay plaster helps to absorb odours and has very clear acoustic advantages, making it ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens.

    Materials can be beautiful as well as functional

    Although their clay plasters were originally marketed on sustainability and health credentials, Clare says designers and architects have adopted them for their aesthetic qualities.

    Clayworks’ plasters are now being supplied to customers all over the world; Clare attributes this success to their ease of use and the fact they can be trusted to stay on the walls and hold patterns, sculptures and shapes. Commercially their clay plasters have been used to fit out of well-known chain restaurants and public buildings.

    You don’t need to paint clay plasters

    Clare makes the point that although their clay plasters are a little more expensive than other wall finishes (starting at around £20 per m2), the overall cost is probably similar because:

    • You never need to paint them
    • They are through-pigmented, so you won’t notice a discolouration if they become chipped
    • They’re easily repaired

    Part of Clayworks’ research included coming up with a very comprehensive range of colours using natural mineral pigments. Clare explains, “We make colours in a fairly infinite mix. We’re always making up colours to people’s specifications…we can do a lot of turquoises, blues, greens and we’ve even done pinks and purples over the years.”

    Different types of plaster have particular uses

    Clay plasters are ideal for internal walls and ceilings throughout a house. The only areas to avoid would be wet rooms and exteriors, where Clare would recommend lime plasters, as they are more water repellent.

    Clay plasters can also be used for feature walls and fronts of other surfaces such as kitchen interior bars and similar furniture-type applications.

    If you can plaster, you can use clay plaster

    Clare says you don’t need specialist skills as clay plasters are applied like any other plaster; it just takes a little longer because the clay is a slightly different consistency.

    There is a series of different layers and depending on the substrate, you would need different binders, which Clayworks supply. A base coat and topcoat then follow.

    Any good plasterer can use their clay plasters to achieve a plain finish, and artisan plasterers would be able to create specialist textured or sculptural finishes.

    Self-builders can learn how to use clay plaster

    There are lots of resources and support available:

    1. Call the Clayworks technical team who can talk you through every aspect of how to apply the clay; the services, substrates, primers and the entire plaster build-up.
    2. Visit Clayworks’ website for techniques and tips.
    3. Clayworks offer one-day training courses for professionals and novice plasterers.
    4. Self-help resources, such as Using Natural Finishes, can help you learn about the process of applying clay and lime.
    5. There’s a network of recommended professionals who have been trained by Clayworks.

     

    Find out more

    Visit the website of Clayworks

    Follow Clayworks on Twitter

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Clare Whitney

    Please connect with me

  • HPH021 : Creating Healthier Homes For New Zealand – with Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green

    HPH021 : Creating Healthier Homes For New Zealand – with Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green

    Matthew Cutler-Welsh from Home Style Green explains some of the challenges of creating sustainable urban systems. He also shares his goals as a podcaster, including championing healthier, better homes for New Zealand.
    matthew-cutler-welsh-profile

     

    Interview with Matthew Cutler-Welsh

    Matthew trained as an engineer before working for the New Zealand Green Building Council. His passion for building houses that are beneficial to the occupants as well as the planet even stretches outside work, where he has set up a podcast called Home Style Green.

     

    Urban Areas Have The Biggest Impact on Our Environment

    Matthew believes that sustainable urban systems are of great importance. This is because towns and cities are where most people live, consume resources and create waste. So ironically, it is these urban areas that actually have the greatest effect on our natural environment.

     

    We All Have a Role to Play in Improving The Situation

    Although Matthew realises the size of the problem can be overwhelming, he thinks we can all influence the way we live. For Matthew, getting involved with how we design and build our houses is something that’s a lot more manageable to focus on.

     

    Home Style Green is About Sharing Knowledge

    Home Style Green aims to be a resource for anyone wanting to build a better home, who is not satisfied with the status quo and the way things are being done. The podcast features various interviews with professionals in order to share knowledge on how to achieve higher standards with housing.

     

    Homestar is a New Zealand Sustainability Tool

    Matthew uses Homestar in his work at the New Zealand Green Building Council. It is a sustainability tool that splits into 6 categories and considers things like energy use, water use, the comfort of the house, wastage (during construction and on an ongoing basis), permeability of the site and where the house is located in the context of the local amenities.

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    Matthew presents the High Performance Home in Christchurch with their 8 Homestar certificate

    House Affordability is a Key Issue Across The World

    Matthew explains that two big issues in New Zealand are availability and affordability. However, he’s also noticing that affordability is becoming a bigger issue across the world. This is often misconstrued to mean just the purchase price of a house but over the lifetime of that building, the largest costs tend to be the running costs. Matthew believes this fact does not even register with the mainstream media.

     

    Expats Are Having a Positive Impact on New Zealand Housing

    While Matthew describes a lot of New Zealand’s housing stock as ‘appalling’, he says that people moving to New Zealand from overseas have a positive influence. They are often shocked by the condition of some of the houses but with the experience of better housing want to make a difference.

     

    Attitudes in New Zealand Unwittingly Maintain Low Standards

    Most people who have grown up in a typical New Zealand house unwittingly contribute to the preservation of these standards. Instead of demanding better, the culture is one of toughening up and accepting the way buildings are constructed.

    Auckland

     

    The Building Code is Still Below Par

    In New Zealand, insulation was not a requirement of the building code until 1978. Even in 2004, the level of insulation required was not good. Even today, Matthew gives an example of a building in Christchurch that is less than two years old and has a totally uninsulated concrete floor slab, yet it is code compliant. Matthew’s opinion is that even the current code is below par.

     

    Change is Driven By Market Forces Rather Than a Clear Goal

    Matthew sees Britain’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality in buildings by 2016 as a good objective that is driving things in the right direction. He explains that, as far as he is aware, there is no such visionary, over-arching goal in New Zealand. Advances are reliant on industry as better products become available and are adopted. Matthew describes this as ‘a risky business’.

     

    60-70% of New Zealand’s Electricity Comes From Hydro Electric Power

    Although New Zealand pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, part of the reason was that there’s not a real connection between carbon, and building and energy use because 60-70% of the electricity production is from hydro electric power. This means New Zealand doesn’t have the same level of emissions issues from the energy sector as other parts of the world. However a lot of New Zealand’s emissions come from the agricultural sector.

     

    Recent Droughts on The North Island Make Climate Change More Real

    Matthew believes that a lot of people are not switched on to the realities of climate change, but as agriculture is such an important part of the New Zealand economy, with unusual weather patterns and droughts, questions are starting to be asked.

    Matthew-and-kids

    Matt and his three kids

    Families Are Likely to Come Before The Environment

    With people struggling to stay warm and pay utility bills, the primary issue is always likely to be looking after the family. Matthew is an advocate of sustainability by stealth, whereby you address the issues that people are facing and look at the connection with those and some of the environmental goals that you want to achieve. For example, improving the insulation of a home might reduce power bills which will also help the family that lives there.

     

    New Zealand Has The Second Highest Asthma Rate in The World

    Matthew highlights the need to create healthier homes because New Zealand has the second highest asthma rate in the whole world. It is also the leading cause of hospitalisation for children, with 1 in 4 children having relatively severe asthma. Matthew describes these statistics as ‘scary’ for a so-called developed country.

     

    Houses Affect Our Health

    As we spend so much time in houses, they do have an impact on our health and well being. Cold and damp environments are not conducive to a good quality of life. Matthew says the mortality rate in New Zealand increases rapidly during wintertime. Once people have more experience of better homes, they are more likely to demand them.

     

    Matthew’s Recommended Resources

    • ECOBOB – Find information on green homes, sustainable design and eco living in New Zealand.
    • The Sustainable House (affiliate link) by Michael Mobbs – this is a book that inspired Matthew when he was at school. Michael Mobbs converted a terraced house in Sydney into a sustainable home, which was particularly interesting as Michael’s background was in law rather than construction.

    Sustainable-House-book

     

    Find out more about Matthew Cutler-Welsh

     

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Matthew Cutler-Welsh.

     

    Check Out Our Brand New Videos

    We’ve teamed up with Martin Evans from the Malthouse Consultancy (who was our guest in episode 2) to bring you a case study of an energy efficient country house. Martin explains the key considerations and how it was built.

    Check out the House Planning Help YouTube Channel to view two more videos with Martin Evans. He takes us on a tour of his plant room and outlines the factors that will drive down efficiency of a ground source heat pump. Plus, what is the order of priorities if you’re looking to create an energy efficient home?

    Find out more about Martin Evans and the Malthouse Consultancy.

     

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