Generally, people associate poor air quality with a smog layer hovering over a group of skyscrapers in a large city or smoke belching from car exhausts and buildings. For many Calgarians the clear blue skies we often enjoy relative to more densely populated regions in the world is considered a source of pride.

Ironically, most Canadians spend on average 80% to 90% of their time indoors.  And since the average person breathes 12,870 litres of air a day  (that’s about 1700 basketballs worth of air!), the air inside your home makes up a substantial proportion of the air you breathe.

Air quality experts are indicating that issues such as poor ventilation, unchecked moisture build-up and materials that emit harmful chemicals can create air quality conditions in your home that are associated with many health problems.

As a result, housing and health related organizations are encouraging Canadians to take a second look at their home and learn about the factors that can create poor indoor air quality.

Many Canadians don’t know that the air they breathe in their homes can play a large role in their health. Health experts have indicated that health problems like decreased lung function, allergies, respiratory infections and lung cancer are associated with many air pollutants that can be found in the home.  Some indoor air pollutants to be aware of include:

• Dampness and mould
• Products of combustion (e.g. carbon monoxide)
• Bacteria
• Products of emission (e.g. volatile organic compounds)
• Viruses
• Environmental tobacco smoke
• Pesticides
• Dust mites and animal dander
• Particulate matter

Scientists and construction experts are finding that a home works as a system to create a comfortable living environment.  How your home is built and the quality of the mechanical systems (heating, cooling and ventilation components) can play a key role in indoor air quality.  Having recognized this, initiatives in the residential construction industry have incorporated indoor air quality improvements into new construction standards like R2000 and Built Green™ Alberta. 

To provide indoor air quality improvements, the Ecohome was designed and constructed to achieve both the R2000 and Built Green™ Alberta Gold standards.  This means a family living in the Ecohome will benefit from

• increased mechanical ventilation to provide fresh air into the home
• use of carpets, paints, wood products and glues that produce lower chemical emissions
• better protection from moisture damage that reduces the growth of mould and bacteria

By preventing and reducing sources of indoor air pollutants, the Ecohome can works to reduce the risk for respiratory problems and other illnesses, providing a healthier overall living environment.