Isn’t great when you are thinking about something, you know that there should be a name for and it seems a good idea – and then you find out that someone has already thought about it for you. Well welcome to the world of BUILDING BIOLOGY.

We are focused through Chemical Free Community on what you put IN, ON and AROUND you in terms of the choices that you can make around lowering your toxic exposure. Often it is the IN and ON that seems the easiest or gets the most attention. It is like information being more readily available for those Food and Product choices rather than SERVICES (But hey – we are fixing that at ChemFreeCom).   Then the universe says – hey you guys – what about Building Biology!! A SERVICE and focused so beautifully on what we have AROUND us. Winner!

Okay – so what is Building Biology. Direct from the Australian Society of Building Biologists (www.asbb.org.au) we learn that:

Building Biology investigates and works to reduce the potential health hazards that affect our life from the buildings we live and work in.   Using 25 main principles and a number of design, construction and material guidelines, Building Biology considers and covers all possible aspects of the interaction between each building and the occupants as well as the interaction between the building and the environment it is constructed in.

It is all about Sick Buildings and understanding what we can be doing to reduce the impact of these buildings on us, on our health and that of our families. Hmmmm sounds like something that Chemical Free Community should be interested in! And we are….

As an example of what you could be doing at right now to create a healthy home, we have reproduced a list of 10 things from www.buildingbiology.com.au and Nicole Bijlsma:

If I was to sum up in ten steps how to create a healthy home, this would be it! 

1. Take your shoes off before you enter the home as this will significantly reduce the dust load.

2. Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter and motorised head.  Vacuum cleaners that are not fitted with a HEPA filter will exacerbate exposure to allergens like mould, house dust mite and dander by causing them to become airborne. Investing in a good vacuum cleaner is important to establishing a healthy home for children and critical if anybody in the household suffers from asthma or allergies.

3. Air your home by opening windows as often as you can (unless you live near a major arterial route, near heavy industry or open cut mine or during crop dusting season). A healthy home smells like fresh air!

4. Reduce the number of chemicals to clean your home. Damp microfibre cloths are great for dusting and to reduce the microbial load in the home.

5. Use the sun to air chopping boards, soft toys, pillows and mattresses, pet bedding and other fabric furnishings on a regular basis. 

6. Store food and beverages in glass, stainless steel and lead-free ceramics. Avoid plastics, pewter, highly coloured ceramics, ceramics with a corroded glaze and leaded crystal.

7. Avoid air fresheners, pesticides and artificial fragrances in your home as many are lung irritants that may also contain hormone disrupting chemicals.

8. Ensure electrical appliances are at least 1 metre away from your bed, favourite couch and any other areas where you spend time in order to reduce your exposure to electromagnetic fields. 

9. Chlorine and fluoride in drinking water are associated with health risks. Use a water filter.

10. Remove visible mould with a damp microfibre cloth which has been soaked into a solution of 80% white vinegar to 20% water. To prevent it coming back, find and address the source of water.

We have been very fortunate lately to connect with a number of the Building Biologist around Australia and have provided below links to their respective websites. If you are feeling a little sick and can’t put your finger on why – well it may be your house or your work environment that may be the cause. Contact one of the following Building Biologists to know a little more.

 

 

Business Name	Contact	Website	Email contacts
At Harmony Consulting	Narelle Haw	http://www.atharmony.com.au/	narelle@atharmony.com.au
Building Biology	Nicole Bijlsma	http://www.buildingbiology.com.au/	info@buildingbiology.com.au
Building Biology Queensland	Birgit Richards	http://www.buildingbiology-qld.com.au/	info@buildingbiology-qld.com.au
Eco Health Solutions	Lucinda Curran	http://ecohealthsolutions.com.au/	lucinda@ecohealthsolutions.com.au
Ecolibria	Raphael Siket	http://www.ecolibria.com.au/	raphael@ecolibria.com.au
Environomics	Karen Edwards	http://www.environomics.com.au/	karen@environomics.com.au
Green Living Solutions	Bree Fisher	http://www.greenlivingsolutions.net.au	info@greenlivingsolutions.net.au
Healthy Living Spaces	Narelle McDonald	http://www.healthylivingspaces.com.au/	narelle@healthylivingspaces.com.au

 

Building Biology is a growing discipline in Australia and training is available through the Australian College of Environmental Studies. http://www.aces.edu.au/

Okay – let’s go… and let us know how you go.