Business South May 2021

76 | “Health Based Building can help people to reassess what makes up their space by taking the search out of their equation.” BUILDING Canterbury - Health Based Building Helping people create healthier homes T Karen Phelps Health Based Building’s Foreverbreathe Demonstration home in Christchurch allows people to get a feel and access to data to confirm how the Foreverbreathe Specification works in real life. 03 540 2123 info@rubybayjoinery.co.nz Proud to work with Health Based Building Kahurangi Windows & Doors DemonstrationHome: 1062ColomboStreet, ChCh Architectural, Commercial & Residential • Customized and designed to meet your needs • Free quote • Specialising in designer homes • We stand by what we sell Proud Supplier of Fujitsu and Mitsubishi Heat Pumps Mobile: 027 444 5180 Email: ru@aceheatpumps.co.nz Solar Water Heating & Power Call 0800 SUNSHINE I t will come as no surprise to many New Zealanders that a lot of New Zealand homes are not healthy to live in – and this can include the new builds, says spokesperson for Health Based Building Robin Curtis. And this becomes even more important as most people spend up to 90% of their time in homes and buildings, he says. Most of the products and materials used to build new homes are chemically advanced, synthetic, processed or treated, he says. “This can have a direct impact on human health. For example, health organizations have identified many substances that can cause the onset of asthma and many of these are common ingredients of building products,” explains Robin. Health Based Building helps people to de- sign healthier homes with the right products via a new standard in high performance build- ing called the Foreverbreathe Specification. “The specification brings a combination of high-performance vapour permeable building materials together to ensure the built environ- ment is designed to migrate moisture away from the indoor space with minimum energy use and minimal energy loss. “Adhering to aims of human health and sus- tainable development ensures these materials do not contain harmful chemicals or the ability to release harmful chemicals that impact indoor air quality and the environment.” Foreverbreathe Specification embraces the airtight principle to reduce air exchanges and energy use while departing from the inclu- sion of whole home mechanical ventilation systems. Instead this is managed via the specifica- tion’s breathable building components and localised exhaust ventilation (LEV). The components, inclusive of insulation, are specifically manufactured to establish hygro- scopic moisture conversion via wool insulation within wall and ceiling cavities. You won’t see plastic wraps, spray foams, glass fibre or expanded polystyrene insulation in a Forever- breathe Specification home, say Robin. Robin says education is key to better un- derstanding of the role consumers can play in supporting sustainable development. Health Based Building is walking the talk by construction of the Foreverbreathe Demon- stration Home located at 1062 Colombo Street, Christchurch, so people can get a feel and access to data to confirm how it all works in real life. Data being the most important aspect in the education process. Health Based Building was formed in a joint venture with Hardie & Thomson in 2012. Hardie & Thomson have been resident on the Colombo Street site as timber and joinery suppliers since 1908. Today Health Based Building works with the public, architects and builders to help achieve healthy and sustainable outcome in homes and built environments. “Health Based Building can help people to reassess what makes up their space by taking the search out of their equation. “We have done it all for them and have a multitude of great products on our website. “ Whether building, renovating, or simply changing around a few things, Health Based Building provides information and products for people to easily make a space a healthy place,” says Robin. He points out that the beneficial effects of Health Based Building extend well beyond the physical home or building: “Ultimately we are champions of a healthy living environment that achieves human development goals while sustaining the ability of natural systems to continue the provision of natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society de- pends,” says Robin. “That’s sustainable development in the truest sense.”