Explore our educational resources about healthy homes, toxic building materials, and passive house design.
Comprehensive guide to spray foam insulation issues, from off-gassing and VOCs to long-term health impacts and remediation strategies for affected homes.
Read More →Interactive tool and detailed analysis of how spray foam affects indoor air quality, respiratory health, and overall occupant wellness.
Read More →Deep dive into the chemical composition of spray foam insulation, including blowing agents, catalysts, and reactants that remain in the material.
Read More →Guide to encapsulation products and coatings used to seal and mitigate off-gassing from problematic spray foam installations.
Read More →Analysis of electromagnetic field (EMF) levels across home environments and strategies for reducing exposure in residential spaces.
Read More →Detailed exploration of amine catalysts used in spray foam production and their potential neurological and respiratory health effects.
Read More →Comprehensive overview of formaldehyde sources in homes, routes of exposure, and documented health impacts including cancer risk.
Read More →Analysis of methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) residues in spray foam and their respiratory, neurological, and immunological effects.
Read More →Examination of TCPP (tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate) as a flame retardant and its potential endocrine disruption and reproductive effects.
Read More →Quick-reference guide covering common spray foam problems, warning signs, testing methods, and options for homeowners concerned about their homes.
Read More →Quick reference for common toxic chemicals found in building materials, their health effects, and healthier alternatives.
Passive House (Passivhaus) is a performance standard for building efficiency. Click to expand each principle.
Passive houses use significantly thicker insulation (often 6-12 inches) in walls, roofs, and foundations. This extreme insulation reduces heat transfer dramatically, allowing the home to maintain comfortable temperatures with minimal heating or cooling.
All air leaks are sealed meticulously. The building envelope achieves 0.6 air changes per hour or less at 50 pascals of pressure. This prevents uncontrolled infiltration and exfiltration, ensuring consistent indoor conditions and superior energy efficiency.
Triple-glazed windows with insulated frames and proper installation minimize heat transfer through windows. These high-performance windows maintain comfort near windows while looking completely normal from the outside.
Since the home is so airtight, controlled mechanical ventilation ensures fresh air supply. Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems capture heat from outgoing stale air and transfer it to incoming fresh air, recovering 75-95% of that heat energy.
The combination of superior insulation, airtightness, and solar gain means heating needs drop to 10-20% of conventional homes. Many Passive Houses use only small heating systems, like a heat pump or even just electric resistance in the ventilation system.
What to avoid and what to use in each category of building materials.
Vinyl flooring (PVC), laminate with formaldehyde, conventional carpet with VOCs and flame retardants
Solid hardwood, natural cork, tile with low-VOC adhesives, wool or natural fiber carpet with natural backing
Conventional VOC-heavy paints, oil-based products, formulas with heavy metals
Zero-VOC or low-VOC paints, plant-based finishes, water-based polyurethanes, eco-certified products
Spray foam (polyurethane/isocyanate issues), fiberglass with formaldehyde binders
Mineral wool, cellulose, sheep's wool, cork, rigid foam with low-toxicity blowing agents, aerogel
Particleboard with formaldehyde, plywood with urea-formaldehyde adhesives
Solid wood, plywood with soy-based adhesives, FSC-certified materials, low-VOC finishes
Laminate with formaldehyde, some quartz with resin and dyes
Natural stone (granite, marble, slate), concrete with low-VOC sealer, wood with natural finish, recycled glass
Conventional silicones with VOCs, polyurethane adhesives with isocyanates
Silicones labeled low-VOC, water-based adhesives, soy-based products, GreenGuard-certified options