44 Ways #09: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Hello! This is Episode 409. This is Way #9 of the 44 Ways to Create Your Sustainable Home series. This episode also closes out Section Two: Sustainable Design Strategies. In this episode, we’re finishing Section Two with Way #9. Way #9 is: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/409] The ways I’ve been sharing in Section Two have been about the bigger-picture design decisions that need to be thought about early, but can create a huge amount of impact in your future home’s sustainability, functionality and performance.  We’ve covered designing a smaller, smarter home, choosing an aligned team, creating an efficient structural design collaboratively, and future proofing your home with accessibility. I know that when most people think about sustainability, they’re thinking about energy, water, and materials, and how they can save all of those things. But a sustainable home is also a healthy home.  And, given that we spend 80 to 90% of our time indoors, and especially since COVID, much of that time is now in our homes. The quality of indoor air that your renovation or new build creates will have a big impact on the health of all living in the home, and how the home functions for you long-term. Indoor air quality is directly impacted by decisions you make about the materials and finishes you include in your home, and the ventilation strategy you adopt. Those decisions are ideally made during design and specification.  If indoor air quality is important to you, your goals for it belong in your Design Brief, right alongside other strategic design and specification decisions you want to prioritise in your project. In this episode, I take you through how indoor air quality is part of your sustainability considerations, the main sources of indoor air pollution in residential homes, how moisture and ventilation connect to this, and what you can actually do at the design and specification stage. As always, if you'd like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to any resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/409. Now, let's dive in! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/409 Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my signature online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/ Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.