Copyright Star News

by Susan M.A. Larson

There’s a new house on Foxtail Lane in Rogers.
True, all of the homes on this street are new, but there’s one that’s different from the rest, although you can’t tell by looking at it.
The house at 21431 Foxtail Lane is an American Lung Association (ALA) Health House home, the first of its kind in the northern suburbs. American Lung Association Health House is a national program teaching builders and homeowners how to build and remodel healthier, more energy-efficient homes. Constructed by Christian Builders, Rogers, the Foxtail Lane home will be open Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1–2, from noon to 6 p.m. for tours and people will be there to answer questions about the program.
The Health House program sets stringent guidelines for builders to follow, said Bob Moffitt, ALA representative.
For example, the water heater has a sealed combustion unit, so all of the byproducts created by a water heater are directly vented up and out of the home. An air exchanger replaces stale air in the home with fresh air, takes the heat out of the stale air and heats the incoming air, and cools the air in the summer. A radon protection system is installed. Paint, stain and adhesives without volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) are used. The appliances are energy efficient. Hard-surfaced flooring is encouraged but if carpet is used, only those from the Carpet and Rug Institute are used. All ducts are sealed with mastic tape, making everything more efficient.
“Health Houses,” said Moffitt, “are sealed at least five times tighter than regular construction.”
Capillary breaks are another unique feature of the Health House. Wherever concrete touches wood or where wood touches foundation, Moffitt explained, a waterproof break is installed preventing water from wicking up the wall. The slope of the landscaping/drainage, is also important in keeping mold-producing moisture out of the home.
The benefits of building the Health House way include improved air quality, materials and building products that are less toxic and environmentally friendly, and greater energy efficiency.
“It’s the stuff you can’t see,” said Moffitt, “that can hurt you, that can get deep into your lungs and cause respiratory problems.”
The ALA conducts site inspections during construction. Upon completion, it must pass a final test to be called a Health House.
This sort of construction isn’t totally new to Christian Builders.
Said Gretchen Hempel, land and contract manager for Christian Builders, “It’s been something we’ve been doing a long time (in other programs) regarding energy efficiency and new technology. We built our first Energy Star home in 1998. Since June of this year, all of our houses are built to Energy Star standards.”
Building the Health House, she said, “is just taking it to the next level. It’s something we feel is important.”
While every home Christian Builders constructs will not be a Health House, the company is a registered builder of Health House homes.
The appearance of the home is not affected by all the attention to health-conscious details.
“When people hear about a Health House,” Moffitt noted, they expect to see something sterile and clinical looking” which is not the case.
For more information on Health Homes, go to info@healthhouse.org, 877-521-1491 or go to www.HealthHouse.org.