I have long wondered what exactly is meant by "ecological building," "healthy building," or building biology. Sometimes I read statements saying that new houses contain numerous harmful substances and that one should pay more attention to building biology.
I have looked into this and researched, but I haven't found a clear difference between "normal construction" and construction that is considered safe from a building biology perspective. My first suspects, plastics like multilayer composite pipes or insulation materials, apparently seem to be completely fine.
Some people bring up the topic of electromagnetic pollution. Okay. This leads to the entire house being turned into a kind of electromagnetically shielded cage. Of course, it makes sense not to run cables across the bedroom or under the bed.
Now, for the first time, I noticed a point that is truly considered concerning. Apparently, standard expanding foam used in construction is far from healthy. However, there is also the opinion that all harmful substances have dissipated 48 hours after application.
It is then recommended to fill the gaps around interior doors, the front door, and window edges with materials like wood fiber, mineral wool, stone wool, or jute instead of using expanding foam. Is there any truth to that? Where else is expanding foam still used?
Do you know of any other areas that are not just subjectively but clearly part of building biology?
I have looked into this and researched, but I haven't found a clear difference between "normal construction" and construction that is considered safe from a building biology perspective. My first suspects, plastics like multilayer composite pipes or insulation materials, apparently seem to be completely fine.
Some people bring up the topic of electromagnetic pollution. Okay. This leads to the entire house being turned into a kind of electromagnetically shielded cage. Of course, it makes sense not to run cables across the bedroom or under the bed.
Now, for the first time, I noticed a point that is truly considered concerning. Apparently, standard expanding foam used in construction is far from healthy. However, there is also the opinion that all harmful substances have dissipated 48 hours after application.
It is then recommended to fill the gaps around interior doors, the front door, and window edges with materials like wood fiber, mineral wool, stone wool, or jute instead of using expanding foam. Is there any truth to that? Where else is expanding foam still used?
Do you know of any other areas that are not just subjectively but clearly part of building biology?
There is no GOOD or BAD!
It must be a healthy balance of cost and benefit for each individual, so that they feel comfortable with their expenses and possessions.
The choices become fewer and more expensive as you focus more on ecological and organic products.
We all want to stay healthy—no one knowingly brings harmful substances into their home.
However, sometimes compromises are necessary to still be able to afford life and building a house.
What use is a house built without unnecessary plastics if one meal a day contains additives that the body has to deal with?
A tip: avoid unnecessary plastic, such as vinyl flooring 😉
It must be a healthy balance of cost and benefit for each individual, so that they feel comfortable with their expenses and possessions.
The choices become fewer and more expensive as you focus more on ecological and organic products.
We all want to stay healthy—no one knowingly brings harmful substances into their home.
However, sometimes compromises are necessary to still be able to afford life and building a house.
What use is a house built without unnecessary plastics if one meal a day contains additives that the body has to deal with?
A tip: avoid unnecessary plastic, such as vinyl flooring 😉
But first, one should consistently avoid all plastic packaging for food. This is certainly a much bigger issue, as plastic enters the body directly... no yogurt in plastic cups (plasticizers and such...), no coated cartons (Tetra Pak), no plastic bottles, no plastic drinking cups, no plastic toys for children (even if sometimes considered safe, they could be classified as hazardous one day just like EPS), no shoes with plastic parts, no clothing containing synthetic fibers, and so on. 😉
However, I fully understand the desire to build in an environmentally sustainable way. If someone can and wants to afford it, they should definitely go for it. The benefit, though, isn’t a dramatically better indoor climate (which nowadays is largely irrelevant because of airtight construction and controlled ventilation systems) or lifelong health, but rather satisfying the green conscience. With unlimited financial resources, I would do the same.
However, I fully understand the desire to build in an environmentally sustainable way. If someone can and wants to afford it, they should definitely go for it. The benefit, though, isn’t a dramatically better indoor climate (which nowadays is largely irrelevant because of airtight construction and controlled ventilation systems) or lifelong health, but rather satisfying the green conscience. With unlimited financial resources, I would do the same.
Tego12 schrieb:
But then you should consistently avoid all plastic packaging for food. That’s definitely a bigger issue since it goes directly into the body... no yogurt in plastic cups (plasticizers and so on…), no coated Tetra Pak cartons, no plastic bottles, no plastic drinking cups, no plastic toys for children (even if sometimes considered safe, it could later be classified as hazardous just like the concerns about EPS…), no shoes with plastic, no clothing with synthetic fibers, etc. 😉That’s not possible. We can’t live completely consistently without any compromises. If you want unpackaged organic products, for example, you have to travel further—often by your own car… spend more money on organic food and fuel...
You talk about consistency, I’m talking about compromises.
Everyone has to decide that for themselves!
Life is all about compromises. Everyone tends to justify the choices they can realistically implement for themselves (in your case, it seems to be insulation rather than yogurt 😉). Is it harder to buy milk or yogurt in glass bottles than to install hardwood flooring instead of vinyl? It’s all a matter of willingness. I don’t want to judge the practicality of either choice, and that wasn’t the intention of the previous post either...
It’s completely legitimate to prioritize and implement what matters to you and what you are willing or not willing to do. Everyone should do as they please (as long as it stays within legal boundaries). I just don’t like the dogmatic attitude that “EPS is bad,” especially considering that similar materials shape a large part of our lives.
It’s completely legitimate to prioritize and implement what matters to you and what you are willing or not willing to do. Everyone should do as they please (as long as it stays within legal boundaries). I just don’t like the dogmatic attitude that “EPS is bad,” especially considering that similar materials shape a large part of our lives.
Tego12 schrieb:
(in your case it’s probably the insulation and not the yogurt 😉). Is it harder to buy milk or yogurt in glass bottles than to install hardwood flooring instead of vinyl flooring?Are you talking to me or Grym?
Best regards
ypg schrieb:
If you want unpackaged organic products, for example, you have to accept a longer and more time-consuming trip… usually by your own car… pay more for organic goods and fuel… Really? We have organic fruits and vegetables in almost every store. What are you talking about? If unpackaged organic products exist, then what are packaged organic products?
Tego12 schrieb:
Life is all about compromises. Everyone convinces themselves that the things they can manage well are either good or bad (for you, it’s probably insulation and not the yogurt 😉). Is it harder to buy milk or yogurt in glass bottles than to install hardwood flooring instead of vinyl? Just because B is worse than A, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do A, etc…
Putting things into perspective doesn’t solve problems… 🙂
ypg schrieb:
A tip: avoid unnecessary plastic, like vinyl flooring 😉 That’s the same argument again — it feels bad, but scientifically and practically it’s actually very low in harmful substances. Wood tends to be more problematic in that regard. If it’s oiled, I don’t know. But lacquered/sealed or glued hardwood flooring certainly contains more harmful substances than high-quality vinyl installed as a floating floor.
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