The Temple of the Soul
Chapter 8

CHARACTERISTICS
A healthy and sustainable house is healthy for it's occupants and the global environment and encompasses these main characteristics:

  • Occupant health
  • Energy efficiency
  • Resource efficiency
  • Environmental responsibility
  • Affordability
  • Sustainability
  • Self-sufficiency
This house can be built anywhere as it does not depend on any services such as hydro, sewer, water, etc. When we build and/or renovate, we may or may not implement all of the characteristics of the Healthy and Sustainable House. The point is to be aware of this potential, and to know that we are at choice.

Characteristics of the Healthy and Sustainable House:

Occupant Health

 Air quality through reduction-elimination of source emissions, and high efficiency ventilation-heat recovery system. Exterior vented central vacuum system.
 Water quality through filtration, reverse osmosis, iodization, distillation, ultraviolet irradiation and ozonation
 Natural and full spectrum lighting
 Reduction of noise, electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radon gas
 Usage of household plants helps remove common indoor airborne pollutants
 Natural building materials and furnishings: low emission wool rugs, sofas-chairs made of untreated cotton and hardwood frames
 Eliminate dust emitted from concrete floors by sealing them with a non-toxic water based sealer
 When renovating the indoors, set-up a temporary ventilation strategy to protect all occupants
 Gardening for organic fruits and vegetables all year round
 Combustion air directly from outside, and all combustion appliances are sealed off the house, and a carbon monoxide (CO2) detector
 Optimum air filtration
 Chemical free insect/pest control

Energy Efficiency

 Implement renewal power source program as much as possible
 High efficiency radiant solar heated hot water heating system
 Maximum insulation levels in walls and attic included in the maximum building envelope
 Energy efficient appliances
 Insulated hot water pipes
 High efficiency windows and doors
 Energy efficient lighting, compact fluorescent halogen bulbs
 Large amount of windows and skylights, strategically placed for passive solar heating and lighting (30% of annual space heat)
 Minimal or no electricity consumed from hydro
 Solar photovoltaic thermopile and battery storage system, in the renewable power source program

Resource Efficiency

 Natural water purification mimicking nature when it passes through the ground to a spring
 Water conservation measures (Low flush toilets, etc.)
 Efficient use of building material
 Expand usage of recycled and re-used building materials
 Use of domestic growing woods like spruce and maple
 Locally produced materials
 Durability of house components
 Drip irrigation system and cistern collecting water for watering garden and domestic usage
 Reducing embodied energy by 40% from currently 30 years
 Automatic controls for furnace, air conditioner, heat recovery system

Environmental Responsibility

 Reduce, eliminate fossil fuels usage, thus having less carbon dioxide emissions which affects global warming
 Solar radiant floor and ceiling space heating
 Natural cooling
 Recycling of old building materials
 Recycling centre in the kitchen
 Build smaller spaces that are efficient-efficacious, thus using less resource and waste
 Composting
 Low in watering 2.5cm (1") per week. Do not over water. Also, plant drought resistant native plants and grasses.
 Home office, to reduce travelling
 Waste water and sewage treatment on site
 Community and site planning
 Management, reduction, elimination of hazardous materials

Affordability

 Use of products readily available
 Flexible designs to reduce future renovation costs and readily adaptable to multi-usage
 Low maintenance long lasting materials
 High indoor air quality, for happier life and lower health care costs
 Energy efficiency for lower operating costs
 Compact, efficient spaces for affordable up-front costs