Following Building Science Principles for Healthy Homes

For most of my career as a custom home builder, I utilized standard building practices. As years went by, various aspects of the building process began to concern me and I searched for alternatives. In my quest, I happened upon the Bau Biology website, made the decision to attend a seminar, and thus began the transformation in my building philosphy. The seminar confirmed my concerns and I walked away with an entirely new perspective on the science of building. After two years of classes, seminars and networking with like-minded professionals, I have taken a new approach to the construction of homes and workspaces. By combining my degree in the sciences, experience in the healthcare profession and my many years of construction expertise, I decided to approach building from a scientific angle. Building science has many similarities to medical science; building science is not perfect but one can take an intelligent approach to solving complex issues and diagnosing problems if you have the proper training and education.

While we continue to emphasize energy-efficiency and quality craftsmanship at JTC, we now place additional focus on the systems at work within a building and its interaction with occupants. The composition of building materials used in the building process is of increasing concern. Our goal is to construct a well-built, energy-efficient and healthy home or workspace for you, provide a safer working environment for our workers, and a healthier planet for all. We think it is a win-win situation!

Interest in building healthier homes has surged in recent years. People are becoming educated on toxics in our environment and the dangers of indoor pollutants in homes. I hope that you'll talk to us prior to building as we have much information to offer. We, at Jon Tuthill Construction, are passionate about creating spaces that help keep our clients and our planet healthy.

Jon Tuthill

Reasons We Believe in Building Green & Healthy

• The EPA has stated that pollution levels inside new homes in the US are 2-5 times worse than the air pollution levels outside!
• Indoor air pollution resulting from toxic chemicals has been linked to the dramatic rise in childhood asthma and other respiratory diseases in children- along with chemical sensitivities in adults.
• Many dangerous chemicals, which includes pesticides, fungicides, formaldehyde, vinyl chlorides and more, are commonly found in standard building materials. Examples include:
• formaldehyde in insulation and particleboard
• VOCs (volatilein organic compounds) are in adhesives, sealants and paint
• pesticides and heavy metals are commonly used to treat wood
• Energy effciency is important but NOT at the expense of occupant health. If not ventilated properly, current airtight construction methods can trap dangerous chemicals inside exposing occupants to toxic fumes on a daily basis.
• Children are the most susceptible to toxic materials and you do have the option of providing a healthy environment for your children or grandchildren. Non-toxic alternatives are available!
• By reducing or eliminating toxic materials, you can not only safeguard your family's long-term health but also protect the environment.
• It makes sense to utilize healthy building practices over conventional construction!

"When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all."

― Augusten Burroughs, Dry