Builder’s Library

Earlier this year I was approached by a couple in the organic baby food business. Naturally (pardon the pun) they wanted to build a “nontoxic” house. The job didn’t go beyond preliminary design, but it got my interest aroused. So when The Healthy House by John Bower arrived I was anxious to dig in. Bower’s wife is apparently “severely sensitive” to some household contaminants, which led to their building a superinsulated, steel-framed and – roofed, aluminum-sided home for themselves. Despite extensive research and precautions, they still were prevented from moving in for three months by interior paint fumes that outgassed to a degree that affected Ms. Bower. Bower covers the gamut of indoor air quality, from general strategy (eliminate, separate, ventilate) and the