Builder

the mainstream, says Gail Vittori, co-director of the
Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems
and former USGBC chair. “My goodness, 15 years
ago we couldn’t go into a home improvement store
and find zero- or low-VOC paint. Now we can. We
couldn’t go into a hardware store and find products
with no formaldehyde. Now we can.”
Although healthier products are becoming read-
ily available, home builders still have to plan ahead
when specifying certain materials, says Scott Steady,
environment product manager for indoor air quality
at UL Environment. Products such as cabinetry may
need to be special ordered, and subcontractors may
need instructions about using adhesives and coat-
ings with low-VOC emissions.

★

TARGET MARKET

In the near future, healthy homes will become
increasingly popular as the next big wave of home
buyers—millennials—hits the market. Although
baby boomers have been important innovators in
the healthy home market, young buyers will take it
to the next level, says Stacy Glass, vice president of
the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.
“Millennials are so conscious about what they buy.
They want to know what’s in it, how it’s made, who
made it, and that they were paid a fair wage,” she says.
Glass, a former green building materials distribu-
tor, confirms that the birth of a baby causes a lot of
women to seek out low-emitting and chemical-free
products and homes. “The most feverish calls I would
get,” she says, “were from new moms.”
Chicago builder Weiss has found that families
buying their first home and retiring boomers are his
best customers, and they’ve done their homework.
“Don’t market yourself as healthy if you don’t under-
stand what a healthy home is,” he says. “You have to
go above and beyond and look at it holistically.”
Of course, not all home buyers are 36 -year-old
moms, and builders will have to work to bring reluc-
tant customers to the table, says Carl Grimes, manag-
ing director of the Hayword Healthy Home Institute,
which educates builders and the public about build-
ing science and high-performance homes.
“We’re starting a conversation to get people to re-
alize, wouldn’t it be great to have fresh air to breathe?
Wouldn’t it be great to have a new house that doesn’t
smell like a new car?” he asks. “It’s possible, and it
doesn’t have to cost much more or even more to build
a lot of these features into homes now.” B

Products to Consider

Zehnder ComfoAir 350 Luxe Heat-Recovery

Ventilator

zehnderamerica.com

This heat-recovery ventilator is made in Switzerland

and constantly delivers fresh air and exhausts stale air.

The energy-efficient model warms air as it comes in

and channels it to individual rooms as needed.

Thermaflex EverClean Premium

Flexible Duct

thermaflex.com

This Greenguard-certified duct is designed to prevent

mold and mildew growth. Made using a heavy-duty wire

helix and noise-absorbing insulation, EverClean comes

with a lifetime warranty.

APEX Whole House GAC Water Filter System

apexwaterfilters.com

Water passes through three stages of filtration to remove

contaminants in this simple but heavy-duty device.

A compact design with a built-in frame and metal fittings

makes installation easy.

PureBond Hardwood Plywood by

Columbia Forest Products

purebondplywood.com

This cost-competitive formaldehyde-free plywood is made

using soy-based PureBond adhesive is compliant with the

USGBC’s LEED standards. PureBond panels outperform

other panels in moisture degradation tests. They’re readily

available through traditional channels.

InterfaceFLOR

interfaceinc.com

These 19.7-square-inch modular recycled-content carpet

tiles come in a diverse pattern of colors and can be

configured in any shape or size. Nontoxic one-sided

adhesives connect the squares to each other rather than

the floor beneath, eliminating the need for glue, and

individual tiles can be removed for cleaning or replacement.

Vetrazzo by Polycor

vetrazzo.com

These low-emitting slab surfaces made in Georgia from

recycled glass and a non-resin binder are durable and

resistant to moisture, heat, and chemicals. Priced similarly

to granite, the slabs contain no harmful chemicals,

petroleum resins, or additives. They come in a variety

of sizes and colors.

The McLennan Series Cabinets by Neil Kelly

neilkellycabinets.com

Jason McLennan, founder of the Living Building Challenge,

created this chemical-free cabinet line made from Forest

Stewardship Council–certified solid plywood.

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