Human Health vs Environmental Health with Andy Pace
"I’m a big believer that if a product or space is human friendly, then by definition, it’s environmentally friendly. I don’t think the same is true in the opposite direction. There are plenty of products that are eco-friendly but still very very dangerous for humans. There’s also plenty of examples of things that are 100% natural that are dangerous for humans." - Andy Pace
When I first learned about what we call, “green homes,” the aspect I was most interested in was the “health” factor of what a green home is to provide. As I learned more about what makes a home green, I soon discovered that the definition of “green home” can be rather complex and can be elusive. Soon I realized a “green home” is not necessarily a “healthy home” for certain people.
Typically in the green home world, the health or wellness factors often talked about are indoor air quality, comfort, daylighting, access to the outdoors, etc., yet for some people, that’s not enough. Both my guests, Jen Stout and Mike Bender, had a long journey in finding their way to create a home that they could live in without having any reaction. Mike discussed how he worked with Andy in his attempt to create a home that he could live in, so I thought I would go directly to the source.
As founder of The Green Design Center (https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/), Andy Pace is an invaluable worldwide expert in the field of chemical sensitivity, building materials, and non-toxic construction with over 30 years of experience. He is a leading educator for those who suffer from allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivities and struggle to create healthy living environments. He is also a host of Non-Toxic Environments podcast (https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/non-toxic-environments/)