Non Toxic Environments Home Health & Wellness

2020 was a challenge, of course.  But here at NTE we were still able to produce over 30 quality episodes of the show.  So with that, Jay and I decided to produce a 'Best of 2020' for you all to enjoy.  It is OUR distinct honor to be able to enter your home, car or headphones throughout the year, and we thank you so so much for listening. Bring on 2021 !!  Strengthening our Homes Immune System Making Lemonade out of Lemons Whole House Air Purification Methods Using Zeolites for Natural Odor Reduction Confessions of a Healthy Home Builder Beautiful Healthy Design Convincing the Skeptics Natural vs Un-Natural  

Jay and I take some excellent listener questions this week.  Crawlspace moisture issues, tiling questions and a discussion about what to look for when buying an existing home.  Keep these questions coming folks!  We love the interaction with our listeners and really appreciate the opportunity to provide assistance to you all.  

Just can't believe how fast Thanksgiving is upon us this year, but with how strange 2020 has been for all of us, I guess I can't be surprised.  Jay and I do this episode every year...talking about what we are thankful for.  Of course, our families, employees, friends and neighbors who have been so supportive this year.  But from a Non Toxic Environments perspective, this really has been a wonderful year.  

If I'm building a home, should I be choosing natural building materials or man-made, synthetic ones?  The answer is really not as easy as you think.  Remember this...just because something is natural, it doesn't automatically make it safe for you and your family.  Just ask anyone who used to work in the asbestos industry.  Jay and I have a great one on one discussion about natural ingredients and natural aromas vs synthetic and odor-less ingredients.  Thanks for listening!  

Great to be back after a week of hiking the Appalachian Trial.  So beautiful and relaxing.  This week I'm sharing a few listener calls with you so I can answer their questions on air.  Hopefully, these will resonate with things you're thinking about as well.  New home building costs, sealing wood smells, etc.  Thanks for listening!    

Jay and I talk about several topics today.  Caulking techniques, how-to and how not to "cut-in" a painted wall, and most important, a frank discussion about the state of the retail home improvement industry.  I know you want your project done right away, but there are many reasons why that may not happen, and none of these reasons are the fault of your retailer.  So, put on some Enya, grab a hot green tea and relax. Things will get back to normal soon.  

Jay and I hear the same thing every single week... "why does my contractor (or spouse) fight me on my healthy home choices?"  Whether its lack of respect, lack of confidence or just a breakdown in communication, some people will just fight the adoption of materials that are new to them.  This episode is a very frank on honest conversation about this and how to move forward.  

Sarah Walker is a world renowned interior designer, furniture expert, stylist, educator and a Lyme survivor.  She uses her own severe chemical sensitivities from her disease as a guide in her design practice in Toronto.  She joins us today to discuss her new online detox guide as well as a series of educational events she is producing.  The first episode is all about creating a healthy bedroom sanctuary.  Links below:   Dwelling Well-Healthy Bedroom Design Sarah's Detox Guide  

In the field of environmental architecture and design, both commercial and residential, Eric Corey Freed is truly a one of a kind.  Eric is a visionary design leader in biophilic and regenerative design, and a nationally known expert in deep green buildings.  He has authored 11 books with another coming out soon, plus a multitude of articles, presentations and seminars on the subject of sustainability.  Jay and I had an opportunity to sit down with Eric and have a casual conversation about what his next ventures are and how it all relates to those of us who are just wanting to live in a healthy home.   About Eric Corey Freed

Hey folks, thanks for tuning in today.  Many emails coming to us in the last few weeks, asking about current project conundrums, so I thought it was a good time for a mailbag episode.  I'll talk about RV insulation, flooring for a concrete garage floor, cabinet finishes and more.  Keep those questions coming!!

If you're remodeling your home, there are many different flooring materials you can use and hundreds of manufacturers to choose from.  So you start researching your options and it becomes overwhelming.  Let's take wood flooring.  Do you want it solid, pre-finished, floating, engineered...folks, the options are many and most home owners aren't aware why you would use one over another.  Jay puts on his customer cap today to grill Andy about all these options, then they discuss the possibility of just hiring a pro to do the work.      

Short episode today.  Jay and I have both been so busy with projects that we couldn't connect to record.  However, I wanted to make sure I got something out to you to let you know how things are going, not only with us, but in the construction industry in general.  

About 25 years ago, I was introduced to a natural mineral product called Deodoroc.  This was way back when the green industry was still the Wild West and there were thousands of so-called "green" home goods.  But this product was special.  This is when I learned all about zeolites and the natural abilities they have to help clean and maintain our homes.  Today, we interview Trevor Mullins, who's family created Deodoroc many years ago. I first worked with Trevor's father, Gordon, back in '95 and the things he taught me are still relevant today. I know you'll enjoy this conversation.   Buy some Deodoroc today! Use the code 'nontoxic' for a 5% discount online

Its been about 6 months since I promised we'd do another episode  about healthy home hacks...so here we go!  IAQ, staining, wood knots, PVC pipes...lots of quick and easy ideas you can implement right away.  For our American listeners, have a happy and healthy Independence Day!!  

Air purification is always a hot topic with our clients and even more so these days.  Today, we sit down with Steve Mores who is the VP of Sales and Training for Dynamic Air Quality Systems to have an awesome conversation about all the different ways to filter and purify your indoor air.  Pleated filters vs polarized media.  Why do we want to use carbon? Do UV lights really work?   Full disclosure here... GDC sells the Solace Air brand of systems that Steve's company produces for residential application.  We're not trying to make this a 60 minute commercial for them, but I can say, their RS4 system has been a literal life saver for many of our clients.  https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/product/solaceair-rs4/ 

Its been about two months since Jay and I dipped into the mailbag, so lets do it!  Today, we talk about sealing laminate/engineered floors, we talk about stain proofing marble, and we have a lengthy discussion about consulting on a new modular home build for a very sensitive client.  

Sealers, waterproofers, water repellants...so many terms, so many different products!  What are they and why do we need all of them?  This episodes dives deep into the world of sealers to familiarize you with the terminology and descriptions so that you choose the right one for your job.  Concrete driveways, stone showers, stained patios...we talk about them all! 

You've all heard me say that no project ever goes perfectly smooth. Mother Nature can drop 10 inches of rain.  Sub-contractors ignore your request to use the healthier product.  Folks, these things happen all the time. It's not a question of 'what if', its a question of 'when'.  So when the time comes, it requires quick action by the homeowner and/or general contractor to make sure things get back on track.  Jay and I give some current real examples of this and how they got successfully resolved.    Related Episode: Project Planning to Avoid Frustration

Last week, Jay and I talked about some of the more common myths and misconceptions we deal with regularly.  This week, we're focusing on the individuals we would call our influencers...the legends, if you will.  You may have heard of some or many of these folks, but we'll talk about why they were so important to us as we molded our careers.  There you have it...Myths and Legends. Please let us know who your influencers are!  

I know I've harped on the topic of internet research before, but this episode takes it much further.  This week, Jay and I discuss many of the myths and fallacies of the green and healthy building process and hopefully, shed some new light on them for you.  We'll talk about plumbing, flooring, VOC's and more.  This was such a fun episode for us and I trust you'll enjoy it as well.