On the road you breathe exhaust fumes which contain nasty carcinogens like benzene. Use a car air filter like the one we suggest below if you can. If not, roll up the windows in heavy steady traffic. If at a stand still, roll down the windows and crank up the air to circulate out the fumes.

Whenever I travel, I always seek eco hotels and restaurants like the ones from Kimpton Hotels. Even though these hotels may be green, take a look at where they are located. Don’t book a room too close to a busy street if you can avoid it and look out for any power lines or cell towers which may take a toll on your sleep. Unplug your alarm clock and turn off your cell phone next to you while you sleep to decrease electromagnetic frequencies.

Most mattresses are made with synthetic materials with loads of chemicals like PBDE’s (fire retardants) and stain guards. Bring your own pillow if you can so you have a barrier between the mattress and your mouth and nose.

It is standard that hotels use bleach for cleaning which is a dioxin and can cause lung and eye irritation at the very least. There is something to say about being too clean. Bring a portable air filter if you can to filter out residual chemicals in the air of your hotel room.

Eating on the road is tough when all you see are fast food restaurants filled with hormones and pesticides on the side of the interstate. Plan ahead and bring healthy snacks like raw nuts, gluten free crackers, fruit and lots of filtered water.

Traveling is great! It gives some great perspective to life and makes you appreciate what you have at home even more. It recharges your batteries and also puts you to the test. Traveling with kids is not always a vacation, but it is definitely an adventure! Survival of the strongest. You can still have an amazing time but plan to bring a few essentials to make your trip even better. See our favorites below!

Our top Remedies: Traveling Products

You can make improvements to your traveling experience with these great ideas!

#1 Night Shades. Your body needs total darkness to recoup from the day’s travels.Your cells regenerate while you sleep and with these eye masks, you will wake up refreshed. We also recommend ear plugs!

#2 Your own pillow Most hotel pillows are made from synthetic fibers coated with chemicals like PBDEs (fire retardants). BYOP and sleep like a baby. Check out the ones from Eclectic Home, a trusted source!

#3 Portable Water Filter/Bottle Depending on where you are, you can’t guarantee the quality of the water. You can take this on the plane, empty of course, and refill it anywhere for up to 90 days.

#4 Your own shampoo and soaps Although the cute travel sizes at the hotels are tempting, they are loaded with preservatives like parabens, pthalates (fragrances) and anti-bacterial properties like tricolsan. Dr. Bronner is a great soap and John Masters Organics is a great shampoo.

#5 Portable air purifer. Many hotels are located on the freeway or are have carpeted rooms. Both of which can affect the air quality at your hotel and is not good for your lungs. Plug in a travel air purifier to filter out the junk so you can breathe easy. Great for the car too!

#6 Clean Well Wipes – Not to be a germophobe, but it is a smart idea to wipe down the TV remote and door knob handles at the hotel. Also clean those little hands if water isn’t near by, like after snacks in the car.

#7 To-Go Ware For life on the road, use these great stainless steel containers for snacks, sandwiches and to-go food. To-Go Ware also sells great reusable utensil sets. Reduce waste while you travel!

Book of the Week

Green Travel: The World’s Best Eco-Lodges & Earth-Friendly Hotels

Green Travel is the must-have guide to eco-lodges & green hotels around the world. Featuring 100 clean, green accommodations that are not only environmentally friendly, but work to support local communities as well. Green Travel celebrates the growing availability of green travel experiences. It also tackles some of the more difficult issues that ethical travelers’ face— questions about poverty, the politics of boycotting certain destinations, and the environmental impact of travel.

Happy Trails!

Michelle

Buy and Shop Local, Eat Organic, Read labels, Store your food properly and filter your water.

Organic Food is More Nutritious
According to the Organic Consumers Association – On average; organic is 25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals than products derived from industrial agriculture (that spray pesticides). Since on the average, organic food’s shelf price is only 20% higher than chemical food, this makes it actually cheaper, gram for gram, than chemical food, even ignoring the astronomical hidden costs (damage to health, climate, environment, and government subsidies) of industrial food production.

Eat foods in season and LOCAL! This just helps ensure the vital nutrients and flavors are not lost on days of travel as well as minimize the carbon footprint left behind.

Canned Food
Canned food is great in case of an emergency, if you remember the can opener. The problem with canned food is that it isn’t fresh food hence the name and to top it off the linings are coated with BPA (bisphenol-A) an endocrine disruptor (hormones). Eden foods have come out with an alternative and that is what my cupboard is stocked with.

All Eden Organic Beans, Refried Beans, Chilies and Rice & Beans are cooked in steel cans coated with a baked on oleo resinous c-enamel that does not contain the endocrine disrupter chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA). Oleoresin is a non-toxic mixture of oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir. These cans cost 14% more than the industry standard cans that do contain BPA. The Ball Corporation tells us that Eden is the only U.S. food maker to date to use these BPA free cans and we have been since April 1999. – From edenfoods.com

From the Environmental Working Group
“An EWG simulation of thousands of consumers eating high and low pesticide diets shows that people can lower their pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead. Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to about 14 pesticides per day, on average. Eating the 12 least contaminated will expose a person to less than 2 pesticides per day. Less dramatic comparisons will produce less dramatic reductions, but without doubt using the Guide provides people with a way to make choices that lower pesticide exposure in the diet.”

Meats and Dariy
According to data in The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell, some of the most dangerous chemicals are the natural proteins from animal foods. The research has showed that proteins like casein (cow milk protein), leads to a change in the body environment, which in turn allows for the easy formation and growth of cancer. Unless specified growth hormones (RSBT). This goes for eggs, cheese, milk, sour cream, yogurt, cream,

Produce Guide
Here’s a Produce Guide to help show you what foods you MUST buy Organic because the farmers are dumping chemicals on them. Peaches? Who knew? This applies to all forms, fresh, dried and canned (without BPA lining of course). Washing and peeling can reduce your exposure to some toxins but doesn’t eliminate them altogether.

12 Fruits & Veggies to Buy Organic Only
1. Peaches 2. Apples 3. Sweet Bell Peppers 4. Celery 5. Nectarines 6. Strawberries 7. Cherries 8. Lettuce 9. Grapes (imported) 10. Pears 11. Spinach 12. Potatoes

12 With Lowest pesticide residues  Okay to buy non-organic if not available:
1. Onions 2. Avocado 3. Sweet Corn (frozen) 4. Pineapples 5. Mango 6. Sweet Peas (frozen) 7. Asparagus 8. Kiwi 9. Bananas 10. Cabbage  11. Broccoli 12. Eggplant

Bon Appetite!

Bringing these natural forms and relationships into the artistic and built world allows us to feel at ease, connected, healthy, whole and calm. These shapes and patterns can be found everywhere in nature…. from sunflowers to beehives, to broccoli, to nautilus shells. Nature’s finest geometric principles create awe-inspiring designs.

Images courtesy of Wikipedia

Antoni Guadi (1852-1926), hailing from Barcelona, Spain is one of the foremost designers in history that directly incorporated natural forms into his architecture. This is reflected in his curved construction stone, twisted iron sculptures, and organic like forms. His buildings were other-worldly, secular and sacred, magical and technical, modernista and expressionist. Take a look:

Here are some of my favorite ways to bring more of nature’s healing and amazing elements into our daily lives:

Declutter first: the natural world is simple with a sense of random order.  Overcrowded spaces can make its’ occupantsfeelweighed down and restricted. However, open, airy interiors can give a sense of possiblitiy and freedom. If there are objects in the home that you are not feeling connected to, put them away for awhile to free up some space.

Focus on natural, organic materials and shapes: Look for ways to bring natural elements inside your home. This means jute

rugs, bamboo floors, rough hewn coffee tables, linen bedding, and natural plaster wall finishes. Incorporate a variety of shapes into the decor of your home- there are few straight lines in nature.

Use colors from nature: Color can foster a sense of tranquility, intimacy and serenity. If you want the feeling of a peaceful natural setting in your home take inspiration from stones, wood, plants and water by using beiges, greens, blues, and those wonderful Mediterranean hues like burnt sienna.

Bring actual elements from the outdoors-in: Driftwood, moss, rocks, plants, and branches can function as natural sculpture and decor. Try replacing some of those old trinkets with a found bird nest or a handful of stones from a special place… bringing awe and inspiration from your nature journeys, inside.

Expand your living space to the outside: During as many months as feasibly possible, open the windows, sit on the deck, drink wine on the terrace. Create a protected outdoor space to expand your living quarters and to reap the benefits of the fresh air, the changing light and the bird songs. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you!

Italy and Spain- I LOVE  YOU for all your beauty, incredible design, for the light and the sunsets, for the vibrancy, the art and architecture, the wine and amazing food, for your history and culture and for the all magic you shared with me each and every day. I will return and I will share more Europe-Eco Remedi inspirations here soon!

Health issue: The problem with PFC’s is that they will NEVER break down.  They are linked to many health problems including cancer and liver damage.

Where can you find them: Pots, Pans, Rice Cookers, Wax paper, Teflon, scotch guard, water resistant furniture, stain resistant furniture, popcorn bags, candy bar wrappers, to go container linings, carpets, drapes, shower curtains

Remedies: Cast iron, Stainless steel, coated enamel, cloth napkins to wrap food, untreated furniture and play equipment, popcorn popped on the stove,.our own to go containers that are stainless steel, untreated carpets and drapes, hemp shower curtains.

How to cook the perfect egg

Cast iron skillet

1 pat of butter

1 egg

1 stainless steel spatula with a sharp edge

I start with a cast-iron skillet. You can find them anywhere; even the hardware stores carry them. They last FOREVER! You just need to cure them with olive oil so they don’t rust. Next I take butter and heat up the burner on med heat. Once the butter coats the pan (natural non-stick). And by the way some butter is good for you! – CRACK THE EGG (Organic of course). Then when the egg white is no longer transparent, flip. Turn off the burner and transfer to your plate and ENJOY!

Teflon pans are made using the chemical perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA), “a likely human carcinogen” according to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advisory panel. PFOA was found in the umbilical cord blood of 99 percent of 300 babies born at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2004. Researchers at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health are now determining if the chemical has harmed the infants by altering their hormone levels. The source of the PFOA’s widespread diffusion into the blood of infants, adults and the environment appears to be both industrial emissions and the use of now-discontinued Scotchgard stain-resistant products.

Recent research, however, indicates, that microwave popcorn may be another source of PFOA in our bodies, according to a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and published in the October 2005 Food Additives & Contaminants. Some paper food wrappers include fluorotelomer coatings to repel grease with the highest amounts of these coatings contained in microwave popcorn bags. The FDA found that significant amounts of fluorotelomers migrate from the bags to the oil in microwave popcorn. Unfortunately, once in the body these chemicals may be metabolized to form PFOA. Though the amounts from any single popcorn bag are small, because PFOA remains in the body for years, levels can build up over time.

Although a 2001 study published in Nature did not find PFOA in the fumes given off by heated Teflon, it did find greenhouse gas chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The EWG notes that at 680 F, Teflon gives off six toxic gases including two carcinogens.

Bird-Safety
Because the fumes off-gassing from Teflon pans can be fatal to birds even at very low levels, bird owners are advised to replace their Teflon pans as soon as possible and not to cook with Teflon in a room where your pet bird lives. Bird owners should also be wary of Teflon-lined ovens, non-stick cookie sheets and burners lined with Teflon drip pans. Since birds are so sensitive to these fumes, owners should also make sure that space heaters or other items that operate in the house at high temperatures have no Teflon coated parts.

Alternatives

When you do replace your pans, choose cast iron, stainless steel or enameled iron.

1. KitchenAid Stainless Steel 10-piece cookware set, including 8″ and 10″ French skillets ($149; www.jcpenney.com)
2. Lodge unseasoned Original Finish 10.25″ skillet, ($13.95) and Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies set ($89.95; www.lodgemfg.com; 423-837-7181)
3. Cuisinart 10″ stainless steel skillet ($60) and 7-piece Chef’s Classic stainless steel set ($260; www.cuisinart.com)
4. All-Clad 10″ stainless-steel frypan with aluminum core ($84.95) or 5-piece set ($394; www.broadwaypanhandler.com; 866-COOKWARE)
5. Le Creuset enameled 9″ skillet ($49.95; www.broadwaypanhandler.com; 866-COOKWARE) 

Note:
Since Teflon is only one variety of the non-stick chemical polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used on cookware, watch out for “non-stick” labeling and ask if the coating is PTFE, even if it’s not Teflon. Calphalon, Scanpan and All Clad’s non-stick pans all use PTFE coatings.For a list of products containing Teflon and related perfluorochemicals (PFCs), see the EWG’s page here: www.ewg.org/reports/pfcworld/products.php

Resource: green guide institute (2006)

My remedies
1. Alternative medicine: Supplements like Magnesium and NAC help chelate the chemicals an heavy metals out of my body. Acupuncture and Homeopathic/Naturopathic medicine is preventative, safe and powerful.
2. Smart Electronics: Plug in, old style. No wireless or cordless. Cable baby. (if your neighbors have wifi, ask them to switch or use shielding paint on the closest wall). Turn your cell phone off at night and use a battery alarm clock.
3. Nourishing food and water is essential to finding a healthy balance. Eat a large portion of green leafy veggies, go gluten free and eat organic often and monitor your dairy intake.
4. Good friends: Social interaction is key as well as laughter, dancing, empathy, listening, relating. All important factors to incorporate in your life as much as possible.
5. Nurturing Love: There’s no denying that endorphins, physical touch, smiling, laughing, companionship, intimacy is the perfect prescription.
6. Daily Exercise: Sweat it out every day. Your mood is boosted, as well as your immune system. Play and have fun! Go for a bike ride and see how beautiful your town is.
7. Peaceful sleep: without it, your day is rocked. It’s hard to focus and be productive. Dark, emf free and chemical free environments are the key.
8. Fresh Air: Take it in outdoors, be one with nature, leave the window open or get a great air purifier to do the job indoors.
9. Cleansing + Detoxing : Let it out – sauna, cleanses, smoothies. A little help along the way works wonders.
10. Reflecting and Slowing Down: Meditate, read, stimulate and quiet the mind.

Other powerful methods of healing are pets, the right dose of sunshine, earthing (going barefoot more often), writing in a journal and listening to music or playing a musical instrument.

I would love to hear about your remedies. Write in and we will post them!

 “EMF Pollution may be the most significant form of pollution human activity has produced in this century, all the more dangerous because it is invisible and insensible. ” -Andrew Weil, MD

 “Ten years ago, one birth in 100,000 was an autistic child. In 2005, one birth in 162 birth was an autistic child. A few years ago, these problems were due to cell phone use, in the last year and a half 80% of the people presenting problems don’t even use cell phones. The problem now has to do with the high levels of background EMR.” -Dr. George Carlo, EMR expert

What are EMFs and are they harmful?
Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible lines of energy from electric charges surrounding power lines, electrical appliances and other electrical equipment.  People receive the majority of EMF exposure from power lines near homes, electrical appliances held closely to the body, and cell phones and towers.  Radio-frequency and microwave-frequency EMFs, such as from cellular phones and towers, involve a much higher frequency than power lines and most electrical appliances.  There are no federal standards limiting work or home exposure to EMFs. Over 80% of the electromagnetic fields you are exposed to every day are background EMRs coming from Cell Phone Towers, Satellite Systems in Space, WiFi, TV/Radio Broadcast Towers, HAARP, GWEN, etc.

Health Effects
There is disagreement among scientists as to whether or not typical EMF exposures can have serious health consequences.  Above 60 Hertz, electrical frequencies can potentially break chemical bonds and cause irreversible changes to molecules such as DNA or body tissue.  Microwave currents cause vibrations within water molecules and resulting friction and heat (this is how they heat food). The concern is what effect exposure to these microwave-frequencies have on the human body.  At high levels, microwave and radio frequency EMFs can heat body tissues, and when a person is very close to the source, they can interfere with cardiac pacemakers and the normal heart conduction system. The question is how much is acceptable.

Because you cannot see EMFs and there are no current federal regulations, most people are unaware of the possibilities.  Some studies suggest an association between occupational exposures to EMFs and breast cancer, leukemia and brain tumors.  In children, EMFs and cancer and brain tumors is mostly from power lines close to the child’s home, but there have also been links to risks associated with exposures to household appliances such as electric blankets, hair dryers and televisions. EMFs are reduced greatly by increasing distance from the source such as a few feet from most electrical devices and approximately 100 feet from a distribution power line and 500 feet from a transmission line.

Cell Towers
Living near towers has also been linked to brain tumors, cancer, suppressed immune function, depression, miscarriage, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune illnesses such as fibromyalgia and lupus. Studies have found that kids living near cell towers have twice the amount of leukemia.

REMEDIES
You can check for “hot zones” from wiring or electronic devices in your home with a gaussmeter. Check around sitting, playing and sleeping areas. Distance is key but you could simply move your furniture, rewire or move your wires or shield over the hot zones. When you know where the hot zones are you can sleep better at night.  Contact us for more information. info@ecoremedi.com

Safer chemicals, a juxtaposition indeed. People are becoming more aware of ingredients in the products they are buying, but still many people believe if you buy a product from a store, many steps have been taken to protect you and ensure the safety of the product. You’d like to think so, but unfortunately it’s not true.

Would you believe me if I told you that 41% of Americans are diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives?
Would you believe me if I told you that a person dies every minute in America from cancer?
And would you believe that most of these cases of cancer are preventable?

Some facts:
Over 88,000 chemicals exist in the world.
Only 1% have been tested by the EPA.
The EPA has only been successful at restricting 5 chemicals (PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxin, asbestos, and hexavalent chronmium) in its 35 year history.

Take control of your life, your body, your home. Live Well, Be Well. Detox your space into a healthy place on step at a time.

Mr. President: What’s your plan for cancer?
Eco Remedi would like to highlight a report issued in April 2010 by the President’s Cancer Panel called Reducing Environmental Cancer: What We Can Do Now. This comprehensive report details the link between environmental toxins found in our everyday lives and cancer. Because little regulation exists as to the chemicals included in consumer products, Americans are bearing an unacceptable burden of cancer as a result of these chemicals. 
Click here to view the report.

Get Involved!
Send a message to our President and our government to safeguard our health and environment from toxic chemicals. Here are a few ways you can get involved!

Sign Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families petition to President Obama urging him to protect us from harmful chemicals. click here for to get send your message.

Support the “Safer Chemicals Act” introduced by Sen Frank Lautenberg last year. This would be the first reform of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) giving the EPA new authority to regulate chemicals in our products. Contact your Congress person today!

Our 5 Favs: Tips to reducing environmental toxins in your life

You can have greater peace of mind by taking these action steps in your everyday life.

#1 Take off your shoes In a normal day, your shoes can pick up allergens, pesticide and fertilizer residue, traces of gas fumes and industrial pollution. Prevent chemicals from entering your home by leaving your shoes at the door.

#2 Eat organic food Stay clear of pesticides, fertilizers and genetically modified organisms by choosing organic foods as much as possible.

#3 Clean without chemicals Steam mops are an excellent choice!

#4 Say bye-bye to plastic Bring your own cloth bags to shop and use stainless steel water bottles and storage containers.

#5 Use personal care products without all the nasty gunk Choose products without parabens, fragrances and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Check out more great tips from the Mother Nature Network

Be well. Live Well.

Environmental toxins are everywhere and we show you how be your own advocate so you can take control of your space, so it doesn’t take control of you. There are still 80,000 chemicals in products today that aren’t approved by the FDA, only 200 are. Until the Toxics Substance Control Act (TSCA) is changed, people need to be more in control of their environment.

Here are Eco Remedi’s Top toxins to avoid for you and your kids:

1. EMR – Electromagnetic Radiation – test all sitting and sleeping areas. Health effects: lowers immune system, cancers.
2. Indoor Air Qualilty – test your air, use a good filter, avoid chemicals in products. Health effects: asthma, allergies, lowers immune system, multiple chemical sensitivity, fatigue.
3. PBDE’s – (fire retardants) found in mattresses, pillows, car seats, pjs, furniture. Health effects: neurotoxic chemical.
4. Triclosan- Antibacterial products. Castile soap does the same job. Health effects: damaging to the immune and reproductive systems.
5. PFC – Perfluorinated Chemicals – dental floss, non stick, Teflon, popcorn bags, jackets. Health effects: cancer, liver damage.
6. PVC – flooring, toys, jackets, binders, shower curtains. Health effects: Endocrine disrupter.
7. Phthalates – Synthetic fragrances, plastic toys, bottles. Health effects: Endocrine disrupter.
8. BPA – dental fillings, plastic food storage, water bottles Health effects: Endocrine disrupter.
9. Parabens – preservative found in hair and skin products, cosmetics, personal lubricants, toothpaste. Health effects: Endocrine disrupter.
10. Pesticides – food and garden – Health effects: Endocrine disrupter.

Eco Remedi educates and inspires clients about creative steps they can take to help their health, home and the planet and that green isn’t always healthiest for the human body. Many buildings, commercial, educational or residential have hidden toxins that you can’t smell or see, like EMF or Radon. We go over simple solutions, talk about great products that will help remedy your space into a healthy, stylish place.

Eco Remedi consults with experts ranging from doctors to builders hearing their latest solutions and success stories. If you are having a baby, moving, remodeling or recovering from an illness Eco Remedi is perfect for you.

Eco Remedi has helped many people who have illnesses such as leukemia, multiple chemical sensitivity, cancer, lupus and asthma to create a healthy space so they can heal at home.

Michelle Bexelius is the CEO and Founder of Eco Remedi a consulting and design firm that remedies residential and commercial spaces into healthy, sustainable places. She consults and blogs about eco healthy living and is currently writing a book regarding the subject. In 2007 she was featured in a special on HGTV “Green is Beautiful” where she revealed an Eco Nursery with healthy, sustainable remedies from the mattress to diapers.

Michelle Bexelius is a mother of 2 remarkable children who started Eco Remedi to share with others her tips and resources that she does to create a healthy and safe environment for her family.

At Eco Remedi, we want you to get the best night sleep, every night, so you can maximize your health and well- being. A good night’s sleep promotes cell regeneration, keeps your heart healthy, reduces stress, makes you more alert, bolsters memory, reduces inflammation and can even help you lose weight. Sleep- we all love it. If you are experiencing disturbed sleep or insomnia, one cause may be the air quality in your bedroom.

Our 5 Favs:
Tips to improving the air quality in your bedroom You can make improvements to the health of your bedroom with some easy tips.

#1 Switch to a natural latex, wool or organic cotton mattress and bedding
Most mattresses and bedding contains a full spectrum of chemicals that may impede our sleep habits. And hold the fire retardants (you may need a note from your doctor)

#2 Use no-VOC paints in the bedroom.
Paints release trace amounts of gases even months after they have been applied and the smell is seemingly gone. These gases are called Volatile Organic Compounds and can include highly toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

#3 Prevent dust mites in the bedroom.
Wash bedding in hot water, steam cleaning upholstery, and buying new organic wool pillows every year.

#4 Remove carpeting in the bedroom.
It traps unhealthy particles such as pet dander, dirt, fungi and dust mites. Plus its loaded with hundreds of chemicals. Use a Hepa vacuum cleaner if you do have carpet or replace carpet with hard surface flooring such as wood, cork or tile that can be damp mopped.

#5 Decorate your bedroom with solid wood furniture.
Particleboard furniture can contain glues made of formaldehyde, a toxic gas contributing to poor air quality and adverse health effects.

We also design custom beds and can order healthy mattresses and bedding for you! Call us today to get your bedroom set up so you can sleep like a baby!

We have amazing air purifiers to make sure your sleep is uninterrupted by any unwanted pollutants or allergens.

Our second skin is our clothes. Because humans are not covered in fur, have hooves, big thick manes or scales… we often have to cover up a bit more to be protected from the surrounding environment in order to stay dry, warm, cool and ultimately happy.

So that brings us to our dwellings, which are our third skin. Building biology, or Bau-Biologie in the original German translation, considers the buildings within which we live and work as a third layer of protection. They interact with the outside environment and create the interior space much like our first skin. From the buildings’ walls that shield us from wind and rain and protect us from snow and blazing heat to the furnishings with which we decorate our spaces to the finishes we put on our walls and floors, our dwellings allow us to be safe, comfortable and happy. And our bodies are in a constant exchange with the elements that make up our homes such as the building materials and our consumer products, for better or for worse. Likewise our buildings are affecting the vitality of their surrounding natural environments.

Building Biology encourages the use of the least chemically enhanced technologies to encourage optimal human and environmental health. Building biology is both the science and philosophy that holds nature as the gold standard against which healthy human-built indoor environments must be measured.

A Preview of 5 Important Building Biology Concepts

1. Use Natural Building Materials whenever possible
2. Mitigate for Air/Electro/Water Pollution when building and remodeling
3. Design for Your Specific Climatic Conditions
4. Use only Non-Toxic Finishes and Furnishings throughout a building
5. Consider the Thermal Properties of Building Materials in order to ensure the greatest comfort of the occupants