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Healthier indoor environment: tips and strategies for a healthy home

Since we spend a large part of our lives indoors (about 80% of our time) , it is important that we take care of our accommodation in order to best preserve our health.

What is a healthy home? To start, we'll explain why a healthy home is first and foremost healthy air. Breathing well at home means in particular avoiding internal sources of pollutants, which are multiple and sometimes surprising. Humidity is also an important factor because it promotes the development of biological pollutants such as mites and molds. You must therefore ventilate and ventilate your home. But ventilation lets in external pollutants... so what to do? And beyond the quality of the air, what are the solutions to have a home where life is good?Read on we tell you more!

Summary

Healthy air, the first criterion for a healthy home

Poor indoor air quality can have a variety of health effects, ranging from mild symptoms, such as headache, fatigue or lethargy, to more serious effects, such as worsening of asthma or long-term lung cancer ... The Indoor Air Quality Observatory estimates that air pollution interior could cause 20,000 deaths per year in France. In addition, allergists confirm that pollution indoor and outdoor air worsens and promotes pollen allergies. Among the most sensitive to air pollution: the elderly, infants and young children. The elderly are particularly sensitive to air pollution due to the decrease in their anti- oxidising and the adaptive capacity of their defense system. Also, infants and young children are very vulnerable to air pollution, due to their respiratory and immune systems still underway. development. Worrisome when we know that our children spend a large part of their time at school and that 3 out of 5 classrooms are not equipped with ventilation and air treatment devices. This is why air quality plays a fundamental role in our health.

False friends of the healthy home

Choosing the right furniture

Many of the materials we use in our homes contribute to polluting our living spaces. Indeed, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or particle board are often used in current furniture. MDF is a bonded wood fiber board that offers technical qualities valued in the construction and furniture industries. However, formaldehyde-based adhesives are used in these materials. However, formaldehyde is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as "proven carcinogenic substance for humans". Likewise, PVC, used in multiple interior design applications, like openings and pipes for example, emits many VOCs (volatile organic components) . Choose solid wood furniture and prefer untreated wood. Also, always check the VOC emission level written on the label.

To have a healthy home with a pet? It's possible!

Allergies due to animals occur especially during the winter.The house is closed with animals that can dirty and pollute the indoor air. If you are allergic, it is important to brush and wash your pet regularly. Prohibit him in particular from accessing your room, where polluting particles could affect your quality of sleep. It is advisable to vacuum several times a week to eliminate the animal hair containing allergens.

cat in a healthy home

Scented candles, incense, sprays: toxic elements for your interior

When you notice that your house has a bad odor, (cigarette smoke, food odors), you may be tempted to mask this uncomfortable odor with incense or using a scented candle. However, it is a short-term and harmful solution for your health. Indeed, certain candles and incense can contribute to indoor air pollution by emitting carcinogenic toxins (benzene, toluene, formaldehyde ...). This pollution not only discolours walls and ceilings, but can also contaminate the ducts of your ventilation system. Sprays and aerosols also produce many allergens, endocrine disruptors, and many substances that affect the airways. In conclusion, be aware that cleansers have no odors. The " "good" odors only camouflage bad ones and generally emit substances harmful to the organism.

healthy home and candles

Humidity, a risk factor

The humidity that causes molds

In fact to live in healthy home, the indoor air should be neither too humid nor too dry.

Too humid air can cause mold. In a recent study by the Indoor Air Quality Observatory, it was found that 37% of homes have mold. Exposure to mold can cause varying symptoms: irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, increased frequency and severity of asthma attacks, as well as chronic fatigue and headaches . It is important to watch for the appearance of green or blackish stains on walls, floors and ceilings, in hot and humid rooms. On the other hand, too dry air can cause asthma attacks in the most sensitive people and irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes. European standards state that the humidity should be between 30 and 70%. So avoid overheating your rooms to maintain this humidity level. The APQAI, Association for the Promotion of Indoor Air Quality, recommends a temperature between 19 and 20 ° in the living rooms, and between 17 and 18 ° in the bedrooms. If the air is too dry, you can opt for an air humidifier.

Humidity, the preferred environment of mites

Mites can appear when the humidity is too high. These parasites feed on human skin, animal hair and mold. By fighting humidity and high temperature, you will prevent their proliferation. It is best to avoid textile fabrics in your furnishings. Carpets, curtains and bedding contain all kinds of allergens such as dust mites, dust and pollen ... If you are sensitive, it is best to clean your carpet properly (with baking soda for example). In addition, it is advisable to wash and change your sheets every week or every two weeks.

To ventilate well is to breathe well

Ventilation: a house that breathes

Since a decree of October 20, 1969, the general and permanent ventilation of housing has become compulsory in France. A poorly ventilated house can cause problems for both your home and your health, causing a risk of humidity, mold, bad odors, bacteria, pollutants and other allergens... Depending on your accommodation, several types of ventilation exist. With single flow CMV, fresh air enters the home through entrances open to the outside, before being rejected by the extraction vents, once loaded with moisture.The energy drawback of ventilation is that it lowers the temperature of the indoor air in winter, since the air source comes directly from the outside. Double flow CMV is a solution to this problem by crossing the incoming fresh air and the polluted air leaving in a heat exchanger, without the two flows mixing . As a result, the fresh air is preheated before being diffused into the rooms of the accommodation.

If your home does not have a VMC, you must create or maintain sufficient air circulation that will renew the indoor air: ventilate your home by opening the windows regularly. Especially if you are carrying out interior renovation or when cleaning. According to the APQAI, it is advisable to ventilate at least 15 minutes a day.

healthy home

Ventilating well is therefore important for removing indoor pollutants ... but it does bring in outdoor pollutants!Depending on where we live, we are more or less exposed to particle pollution. For example, homes located near a highway with heavy traffic will be much more polluted. If the environment of your home is polluted, this is a problem ... Hence the interest of an air purifier. Find out about the purifier that best suits your needs: silent or not? Consumable or not?TEQOYA offers you here its guide to air purifier.

Insulate your home: do it for yourself and for the planet!

Energy savings

Insulating your home well protects you from the heat in summer and the coolness in winter, so you use less heating and air conditioning. Good insulation increases living comfort but it also saves money on the energy bill. According to ADEME, 1 ° C more in your home means 7% more heating consumption . The best way to control the temperature in your home is to install a thermostat. This allows you to control the humidity level and change the temperature in your home by the hour.

How to properly insulate your house?

The choice of materials is essential when building a healthy house. Choose materials that are both resistant and harmless to health. If you decide to opt for glass or rock wool, you will benefit from considerable thermal resistance in accordance with the regulations in force. For an eco-friendly design, you can opt for recycled textile panels or wood fiber. On the other hand, it is advisable to avoid polystyrene, polyurethane because these synthetic insulating materials are a mixture of different chemical compounds derived from petroleum and different forms of plastic.

For even more ecological insulation: insulating materials of vegetable origin such as honeysuckle (hemp flakes), flax, wood chips are very good in terms of CO2 storage and gray energy thanks to their local manufacture and their short transport circuit. These are ecological materials and made in France. Animal insulators such as sheep's wool, duck feathers, provide excellent thermal insulation.

A healthy ... and serene home

Living in peace

Unwanted noise in homes can be a source of stress and fatigue. In fact, these disturb concentration, rest, and above all sleep . If you live in a noisy area with lots of road and pedestrian traffic, street noise can be disruptive. Engines, horns and sirens are common and can easily disturb your sleep or concentration. Hence the importance of good insulation. In addition, a well soundproofed house provides a certain serenity and preserves your nights.

Green plants

In 2010, the French research program on phyto-purification of air "Phytair" tested the depolluting capacities of indoor plants. Result: the presence of potted plants under normal conditions of occupation had no formal effect on indoor air pollution . However, indoor plants can bring a touch of nature and make your home more harmonious. If you are purchasing indoor plants, make sure they are non-allergenic. Water them regularly without letting the water stagnate to prevent the growth of bacteria.

healthy home

Feng Shui: for a home where life is good

Green plants can also have a big impact on Feng Shui in a room. Feng Shui is based on the flow of energy, "chi" . Having strong energy, plants therefore have the power to improve energy of your accommodation. A Feng Shui house is a house where the 5 elements are well distributed, where Yin and Yang are in balance, it is a house in harmony with your living space . Feng Shui allows you to improve your daily, to promote your health and thus your well-being. A Feng Shui house is a house where the 5 elements are well distributed, where Yin and Yang are in balance, it is a house in harmony with your living space . Feng Shui allows you to improve your daily, to promote your health and thus your well-being.

 

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