Healthy Home in the Desert

8/20/24

When it comes to healthy home building, most of the articles you’ll find are filled with facts and figures—performance standards, certifications, and energy efficiency data. And while I have a great respect for all of that information, my focus here is different. I want to share what it’s like to actually live in a home built with health and sustainability at the forefront. How does it feel day to day? Why does it matter in the rhythm of everyday life?

Before becoming a kitchen and bath designer, I spent over 20 years as a registered dietitian, immersed in the world of health and wellness. It gave me a deep appreciation for how what we put into our bodies affects our well-being. But five years ago, I went back to school to learn a new craft—kitchen and bath design—and it opened my eyes to the broader world of building materials and how they, too, impact our health.

During this journey, I’ve learned a lot about the building industry, particularly about materials that support a healthier living environment. But I’ll be the first to admit—I still have plenty to learn. And while I enjoy diving into the technical aspects, my primary focus now is on sharing my experiences as a homeowner living in a healthy home.

Living in this house is more than just knowing it’s built with healthy materials or that it meets certain environmental standards. It’s about waking up every morning feeling refreshed, breathing in clean air, and knowing that my home isn’t just a place to live—it actively supports our well-being. The triple-pane windows and thick walls keep the house quiet and serene. The ERV ventilation system maintains fresh air without the need for constant open windows. And the whole-house water filtration system provides peace of mind with every sip of water or shower.

I also recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to live in a home like this, and I am incredibly fortunate to be in this position. That said, I believe that building healthy homes doesn’t have to be limited to luxury markets. While our townhome includes many high-performance features, it isn’t drastically more expensive than comparable new builds that don’t focus on healthy materials or smart home systems. For us, it’s the culmination of years of moving, building equity in our homes, and being deliberate about our choices to eventually land in our dream home.

As I continue on this journey, I’m eager to share more about what it’s like to live in a healthy home. This blog isn’t just about the technical specs—though I’ll share some of those too—it’s about how these design choices impact our daily lives, how they make us feel, and why they are so important to our long-term health and happiness.