Part 1 — Clean Air Starts at Home
After our recent CRAZ Lunch & Learn on outdoor air quality, one thoughtful attendee asked an important question:
“What about the air inside our homes?”
It’s a fair question — and perhaps an even more personal one.
While outdoor air quality often gets the headlines, most of us spend the vast majority of our lives indoors:
sleeping, cooking, cleaning, heating, and raising our families.
The truth is:
The air inside our homes can sometimes be more polluted than the air outside.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters:
Common indoor pollutants include:
- Dust
- Pet dander
- Smoke
- Mold spores
- Cleaning chemicals
- VOCs from paints/furniture
- Carbon monoxide
- Radon
A Modern Paradox:
Today’s homes are often built to be more energy efficient…
But tighter homes can also trap pollutants if ventilation is poor.
This is where sustainable design and healthy living intersect.
LEED & Healthy Homes:
LEED encourages:
Better ventilation + safer materials + moisture control + occupant wellness
This means:
A truly sustainable home should conserve energy and protect the people inside it.
Simple First Steps:
Homeowners can begin by:
- Checking furnace filters
- Monitoring humidity
- Testing for radon
- Improving ventilation
- Reducing harsh chemical use
Closing:
Clean air isn’t just an environmental issue —
It’s a household issue.
As we continue building healthier, more resilient communities, sustainable living starts not only outside our walls…
But within them.
INTERNAL LINKS:
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Health Canada Indoor Air Quality
- LEED IEQ overview
- Alberta Radon Program
“Recommended Tools for a Healthier Home”
- MERV filters
- Air purifiers
- Hygrometers
- Radon kits
Sustainability grows when we share it.
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