Paints
The paint used on the inside and outside of the Ecohome meets Green Seal environmental standards for VOCs and other ingredients. This means the paint contains less total VOCs than average brands. In addition, other chemicals harmful to people and the environment such as aromatic solvents and heavy metals were not used during the manufacturing of the paint.
Hardwood Flooring
Choosing to use pre-finished hardwood flooring in the Ecohome also provided some opportunities for indoor air quality improvements. Hardwood flooring can be easily maintained and cleaned to reduce sources or dirt, grime and biological contaminants in the home. As the floor is finished in the factory and not in the home, chemicals emitted during the finishing process are kept in the factory where they can be properly managed and contained by the manufacturer. Additionally, the flooring in the Ecohome was produced from a forest managed using sustainable practices, which helps maintain biodiversity and protect wildlife and habitat.
Carpets
Many people enjoy the comfort of carpets in a home so we carefully chose a product that reduced risk for diminished air quality. , Research has indicated that some carpets can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), known chemical toxins.(12,) VOCs released from carpets have been associated with health problems such as irritation of the eyes, nose or throat, as well as fatigue.(12) To reduce VOC emissions, the Ecohome utilizes Green Label Certified carpet meeting the criteria of the Carpet Rug Institute (CRI).
Cabinet and Finishing Materials (MDF and Strawboard)
Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) is an economical material used for finishing and cabinetry materials. To reduce exposure to glue VOCs used to make MDF, cabinets in the kitchen where constructed from low formaldehyde MDF materials. In addition, we replaced MDF altogether in the bathroom cabinet on the main floor with strawboard, a healthy and environmentally sustainable alternative material. Can you spot the difference? We couldn’t. |
