Creating airtight and healthy homes.

States that with the ill effects of poor indoor air quality often in the news these days, it pays to design and build a house that is healthy from the start. States that a comprehensive approach to residential design has emerged in recent years that makes both energy conservation and good indoor air quality achievable in homes. Lists some of the worst aspects of buildings in relation to poor IAQ as water intrusion, air leaks, poorly designed or installed heating and cooling systems, troublesome architectural design features, the use of high-emission building materials, and the improper handling of materials on the building site. Some of the simple design changes that should lead to better IAQ are exhaust ventilation in the form of small exhaust fans in bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes; edge-wrap laminate - installing laminate all the way around kitchen cupboard shelves can drastically reduce emissions from particleboard shelving; central vacuum system - portable vacuums allow dust and ozone to escape into the air. Central vacuums exhaust all the particles and motor odours and are essential for households with asthma sufferers.