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8 Elements of a Green and Healthy Home

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Discover the 8 elements of a green & healthy home

GHHI’s whole-house strategy using the 8 elements of a green and healthy home helps families consume less energy, and creates a home free of health and safety hazards.

1 – Dry

  • Prevent water from entering your home through leaks in roofing systems
  • Prevent rain water from entering the home due to poor drainage around the outside of the home
  • Check your interior plumbing for any leaking
What you can do
  1. See how mold and moisture can trigger asthma symptoms.
  2. Take steps to prevent mold and moisture in your home.

2 – Clean

  • Control the source of dust and contaminants
  • Create smooth and cleanable surfaces
  • Reduce clutter
  • Use effective wet-cleaning
What you can do
  1. Read about VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can come from cleaning supplies and how to keep them out of your home.
  2. Learn about pest control to keep pests out of your home.

3 – Safe

  • Store and properly label
  • Keep poisons out of the reach of children
  • Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces
  • Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand
What you can do
  1. Learn steps to keep your children safe in the home.
  2. See clear steps to reduce home safety hazards such as faulty smoke detectors.

4 – Well-Ventilated

  • Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens
  • Use whole-house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home
What you can do
  1. Learn steps to keep your children safe in the home.
  2. See clear steps to reduce home safety hazards such as faulty smoke detectors.

5 – Pest Free

  • If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers
  • Seal cracks and openings throughout the home so pests can’t get in
  • Store food in pest-resistant containers
What you can do
  1. Check your appliances to ensure they meet ENERGY STAR© standards.
  2. Use efficient and programmable controls for temperature, water and electricity and install Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs).

6 – Contaminant-Free

  • Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint
  • Keep floors and window areas clean using a wet-cleaning approach
  • Test your home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks
What you can do
  1. Learn about precautions to take against cockroaches; how to rid your home of dust mites and how to handle removing mice from your home.

7 – Well-Maintained

  • Inspect, clean and repair your home routinely
  • Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large
What you can do
  1. Get tips on how to maintain your smoke detector, properly store cleaning chemicals and stay up to date on your home maintenance.
  2. Avoid risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning by following these steps.

8 – Energy Efficient

  • Use reduced amounts of energy, water, and resource consumption
  • Energy efficiency/weatherization includes: Install proper weatherization, such as: insulation, air-sealing, weather-stripping, and window efficiency
  • Maintain efficient heating and cooling system; proper air flow and temperature distribution; efficient hot water / steam boiler system
What you can do
  1. Check your appliances to meet ENERGY STAR© standards.
  2. Use efficient and programmable controls for temperature, water and electricity and install Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs).
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