Building for family and environmental health

Choose carefully when you're buying building and home interior materials. The best options will make your home healthier and more durable, lower maintenance costs and help protect our environment.

These materials may contain solvents and chemicals that can release fumes into your home for years after construction, harming your health in the process. Some of these chemicals have been linked to asthma and skin conditions. Others - if breathed in or ingested - may have more damaging effects.

Many materials require significant amounts of energy to extract and process for use in your home. These processes can harm waterways and ecosystems as well as contribute to climate change. Other materials such as rainforest timber may come from unsustainable sources.

The best materials for your building and home interior will be:

• non-toxic
• durable and strong enough to do the job required of them
• sourced sustainably
• reusable or recyclable.

The design of your house and the way it is built can affect your health and the environment.

When thinking about design, choose a professional who is experienced in designing energy-efficient and eco-friendly homes.

Also choose a builder who is aware of the potential effects construction can have on the environment.

• Sediment, runoff, paint and other contaminants can harm people and surrounding ecosystems.
• Airborne pollutants like solvents can be a hazard.
• More waste can be generated than needs to be.

With planning and good management, harmful effects can be reduced and waste minimised.