The Goal:
To live as closely with nature as possible and reduce the impact of the built environment on human health.

A holistic approach.

What is building biology?

Building Biology takes a holistic approach in creating low energy, healthy and comfortable buildings. There are 25 Building Biology Principles that are used to guide us in our decision-making process. The goal is to live as closely with nature as possible and reduce the impact of the built environment on human health. We like to delve deeper into what really matters.

  • Reducing allergens in our environment, such as dust mites and mould
  • Reducing our exposure to electromagnetic fields

  • Ensuring our buildings are designed for climate and solar orientation

  • Utilising natural, non-toxic & breathable building materials
  • Utilising non-toxic cookware and food storage
  • Achieving good indoor air quality
  • Providing the best drinking water quality
  • Encouraging the use of natural beauty products and personal care items
  • Removing unnecessary chemicals and pesticides from the home or workplace

And most importantly, if something has not been proven safe for human health we focus on implementing the precautionary principle.

History demonstrates how humanity has got it wrong in the past; for example, Bisphenol-A (BPA), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), asbestos, lead, cigarettes, mercury fillings, diethylstilbestrol (DES), and thalidomide were all once declared “safe.”

Sick building syndrome.

Brief history of building biology

Building Biology is certainly not a new industry or concept. It originated in Germany in the 1970’s when Prof. Dr. Anton Schneider founded the Institute for Building Biology & Ecology. After WWII there was an urgent need to rebuild Germany. Buildings and houses were constructed quickly and cheaply. It was soon discovered that poor building design and construction methods were making the occupants sick. To make matters worse, in 1973 the oil embargo meant that conserving energy resources was vital. This led to air-tight homes with little fresh air exchange. By 1984 the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that up to 30% of new and remodelled buildings worldwide had issues with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and in 1986 WHO coined the term “Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS).

Some of the occupant’s symptoms of SBS are:

  • Headaches
  • Eyes, nose & throat irritation
  • Dry or itchy skin
  • Dry cough
  • Dizziness & nausea
  • Fatigue & difficulty concentrating
  • Decreased productivity
  • Personality changes
  • Sensitivity to odours
  • Hoarseness of voice
  • Allergies
  • Cold & flu like symptoms
  • Asthma attacks

The benefits.

How can a building biologist help?

A Building Biologist can help:

  • Educate clients and their families about environmental health hazards in their home or work environment.

  • Conduct a wide range of audits and assessments to identify and quantify environmental hazards using the latest technology such as bio pumps, moisture meters, and high frequency meters etc.
  • Send any necessary sampling to appropriate labs for testing and analysis.
  • Provide strategies or recommendations to help mitigate hazards.
  • Provide answers to problems that are scientifically validated.

  • Act as the bridge between yourself and suitably qualified professionals to help achieve your healthy home goals.

Environmental Health

When addressing health issues, we often consider key factors such as diet, exercise, family history and stress levels, but one thing that is often overlooked is our environment.

Environmental hazards surround us every day. They have been linked with a wide range of health conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema; neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; learning and behavioural disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), childhood leukaemia, and other various forms of cancer.

  • Bornehag, CG., Blomquist, G., Gyntelberg, F., Järvholm, B., Malmberg, P., Nordvall, L., Nielsen, A., Pershagen, G., Sundell, J. 2001, Dampness in buildings and health. Nordic interdisciplinary review of the scientific evidence on associations between exposure to “dampness” in buildings and health effects (NORDDAMP). Indoor Air, Vol . 11, No. 2, pp 72 – 86.
  • EPA, 2014, Fact Sheet available: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-08/documents/sick_building_factsheet.pdf
  • WHO World Health Organisation, 2009, WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould. Health effects associated with dampness and mould. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143940/

If you or your loved ones are experiencing environmental sensitivities such as electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) – aka mould biotoxin illness, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia, fatiguing syndromes; or you just simply care about your health, then get in touch with us today.

If you or your loved ones are experiencing environmental sensitivities such as electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) – aka mould biotoxin illness, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), fibromyalgia, fatiguing syndromes; or you just simply care about your health, then get in touch with us today.

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