POLLUTION-FREE HOUSING

(Page 4 of 4)

March/April 1989
 
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Most kitchen cabinets are built with particle board or hardwood plywood veneered with an attractive wood, such as oak. These materials outgas formaldehyde. So, I built all of our cabinets of solid wood. We chose tulip poplar because of local availability, cost and appearance. The counter tops are stainless steel, instead of the usual plastic laminate over particle board. An extra-powerful exhaust fan vents the electric range, and a sliding pocket door can be closed to separate the kitchen from the rest of the house should cooking odors become unusually strong.

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We placed the washing machine and dryer in a closet in the bathroom to keep the major moisture sources in one room. Custom-made porcelainized steel panels around the bathtub prevent the mold growth that is inevitable in the grout of ceramic tile. The toilet tank is insulated to minimize condensation, which could lead to mold growth.

Because the insulation values for the walls (R-40) and ceiling (R-45) are so high and the house is so well sealed, we have very little need for heat. Only 4,000 watts of electric-powered hydronic heat is needed to keep us comfortable.

We've lived in this house for nearly two years now, and Lynn's health is slowly improving. There are still many things that she is sensitive to, but our house certainly isn't one of them.

John Bower writes and lectures on safe housing and is the owner of a residential design/construction company called Ecologically Safe Homes, 7471 North Shiloh Rd., Unionville, IN 47468, 812/332-5073.

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