For people concerned about exposure to toxins found in conventional building materials and practices, and for the millions of people who are chronically ill from chemical exposures, this book offers real hope and practical help in building homes in which humans can live without getting sick. This invaluable guide for the homeowner / architect / builder / medical doctor takes the mystery out of healthy house building by walking the reader through the construction process. It explains where and why standard building practices are not healthful, what to do differently, and how to obtain alternative materials and expertise. The book shows how to design interior and exterior space, and select construction materials that enhance and promote physical well-being. Designed for practical use, the book is laid out in the sequence that a home is built, from site selection to electrical work and furnishings. Part I provides an overview of the sources of toxins and naturally occurring pollutants and includes case studies linking chemical exposure to illness. Part II is divided into sixteen sections covering each phase of planning and constructing a healthy house: from pouring the cement and constructing the frame, to heating and cooling systems - even appliances and lighting. Each section is followed by a reading or resource list. The appendices offer a trove of manufacturer, service provider, and catalogue resources plus a description of MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity disorder).

Author Biography

Paula Baker-Laporte specialises in residential architecture. She has been diagnosed as chemically sensitive and is intimately aware of the health threat of many construction materials and methods. Erica Elliott is a physician trained in environmental medicine. John Banta has over a decade of trouble-shooting experience detecting indoor environmental problems.