Healthy Homes

Ecohome's little sister, Ecohabitation in Quebec, tested eco-friendly detergent-free laundry soap balls, read our review and see the results in the Ecohome Building Guide. While walking through a home show not long ago I came across a product that has always intrigued me, the laundry wash ball, some kind of magic…

Smart homes can help reduce the transmission of bacteria and viruses by reducing the number of surfaces we touch in our homes, and for most things we do touch we can zap those with UV light and sanitize without chemicals. Coronavirus or COVID-19 is changing how we live, obliging us to practice social distancing and…

We explore the oft-touted notion that air-purifying house plants remove toxins & improve air in homes. As much as we like a little interior greenery, we're forced to conclude it's a whole pile of compost in the making. Do house plants clean indoor air? The idea that house plants filter and clean indoor air is at…

为炉子和通风系统寻找合适的高效家用空气过滤器对于保持室内空气清洁、健康和保护我们免受过敏原、动物皮屑、花粉、霉菌孢子和可能更糟的情况的影响至关重要。家用空气过滤器是用来干什么的?Air filters on air handling units such as furnaces, HRV and…

Formaldehyde-free & Eco-friendly MDF alternative interior finishing wood products such as Rice Stalk MDF panels are coming to the USA & Canada. Zero VOC to improve the indoor air quality of homes and protect our health. Formaldehyde-free MDF made from rice - available at distributors in USA & Canada There is a…

The practice of putting polyethylene vapor barriers in houses was intended to keep them dry, but it ends up keeping them wet. It's time to explore alternatives and to reconsider how to keep homes cool in summer. Vapor Barrier + Air-Con = Damp Moldy Walls So here's a little known fact that most HVAC installers won't…

Basement mold and mildew can easily be avoided with better designed walls. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from drying. That musty, moldy basement smell that we have come to accept as unavoidable, is actually quite avoidable. The solution is really quite simple - stop…

Normally Homes & Indoor Spaces Should be Ventilated with Outdoor Air - But What Should we do when It's Smoky Outside? How to protect our Health when our high efficiency Homes have HRV, ERV or Central Aircon Systems. How to protect indoor air quality from smoke during wildfires in homes with HVAC? As we move towards…

Long-term exposure to high levels of radon gas in homes is the second greatest cause of lung cancer after smoking - that's 25000 preventable deaths a year from radon exposure - has your home been tested. Why is Radon a Problem in USA & Canada? Radon gas is cancer-causing radioactive, invisible, odourless and…

Natural paint is non-toxic, cheap and easy to make & provides a beautiful texture to walls. Ditch the VOC's & improve interior air quality for your family with these tips on making Eco-friendly natural paint at home. Making Eco-friendly paint at home is easy when you know how If you want to decorate your home with…

Removing radon gas from existing basements and crawlspaces can be very effective, here are different options for different situations. Radon Gas in Crawlspaces & Basements - why is it a problem? Radon gas was not high on the radar of builders and home owners over the last few decades, but as it is the second leading…