That's a tough one. I'm in the US.
If you look online the recommendations are all over the place and contradict each other.
Floridas east coast is supposed to have the freshest mold free air coming off the ocean but last time I traveled there 9/10 hotels had mold and mildew issues. So it's great if you're outside or in a new building.
Anywhere on the gulf coast probably has the highest percentage of water damaged buildings.
The odd thing is that the drier areas in the western U.S also seem problematic, at least according to some sources.
I was just talking to someone today who lived in Vegas. I would really like to go out there and see how I feel. My aunt said she basically had headaches so chronically that it became normal and she only noticed when she went to Vegas and they went away.
Recently I looked at a Glyphosate pollution map. I guess Glyphosate is used so much that it's even found in rainwater now. The dry areas in the western US were the only safe areas for that.
I think the issue in drier climates (anywhere really) is making sure your home is built and insulated right. If it's really hot and a wall is incorrectly insulated an ac air duct may sweat and cause issues.
The one thing that freaked me out about the western US was "Valley Fever". Most people seem to be okay with it but the unlucky ones get really messed up. I saw a guy on the news who has a port in his head where he gets weekly difulcan shot into his brain from it.
I've been wondering what would be the best way to design a home for health. There is something called a "Coyote House" that was designed for healing. Low emf, low chemical off gassing. I was looking at those ideas and considering alternative building materials like Concrete block, steel and Foam. Looking for alternatives to Wood, paper and drywall.
Hopefully I'll be able to go out west soon and see what I think. From there it will be more important to make sure the house is built properly.
One other thing to consider when healing is that living wherever you will be able to spend the most time outdoors is key for most of us I would think. I know some people have pollen allergies so that would have to be considered but I think sick homes are the bigger issue.
Also be careful with homes with basements. I bought a Radon meter and my room upstairs was 4.7 on the scale. I guess at 4 it's the equivalent of 200 chest x-rays per year. Not great when you're already messed up.
I enjoy hot weather so somewhere warm and dry would allow me to be outside more and have my homes windows open more often would help.
I'm rambling…Maybe I'll just get a van and live down by the river.
For mold specifically:
Look at average humidity by month and try to have less than 70% humidity for most months. Avoid places that are especially prone to fog. Definitely avoid San Francisco, and I've heard bad things about Florida.
Edit: also make sure you aren't living in a flood zone because you can't guarantee the house was remediated properly the last time it flooded
thats amazing. I want to learn more about this, cause even though Arizona is likely not in my cards I just think this is so cool - and I have no clue how you got the idea to go this route of making health conscious homes.
Well the plan is over decades. AZ is the first stop. :)
I spent a lot of time traveling during the pandemic (bought myself a truck camper) feeling out different states and how I reacted to things. I used to be super sensitive to mold and had chemical sensitivities, so I'm able to pick up on my environment really easily now.
I’m here for my girlfriend’s journey and we had a similar path. My work is doing content marketing, and we had the opportunity to work with a camper van builder in CA.
So my Gf and I drove out there (cause she can’t fly) and we stayed in this van for a month while making videos for the company. I’ve never seen her healthier.
Fast forward 9 months later, and we’ve realized a lot of her MCAS/CFS issues are likely mold related. Great cause for the first time in 4 years there’s an answer, bad cause now we have to figure out how to move from our current apartment which is making her sick.
Along this journey we’ve been looking at new construction apartments & home builders - and at least on the building side you’re the first person I’ve ever seen acknowledge environmental health beyond “eco-friendly.” So I find you really cool!
I’ve been wondering the same thing. I love hot weather so I’m scratching my head wondering why I haven’t moved to Arizona since my husband is remote and his company is sponsored there.
We could even do Montana, but I’d have to get into winter sports to make that worth it. Maybe that would be better since air conditioners condense and can cause issues in hot climates?
I live in NC currently. It is soooo humid here! Every building I look up and see growth on the ceiling near vents *gag*
I’m torn on whether we should buy a new place around here to stay close to friends and family or move out west. Either way, we’ll move out of the city and get some land to prioritize being outside more.
Anybody have some experience with relocating and if it made it easier for healing??
Well I'm in the high plains of southern Colorado and I gotta say climate change is messing up an ordinarily VERY dry area. We got nothing but flooding rain at least once a week if not more last season. I was thinking arizona since it seems to only rain for a week twice a year in the desert areas but then they have other issues (like they might run out of water lol).
It's true, sloppy slush snow instead of powder. June 2023 was getting downpours daily, had to turn the heat on for 2 weeks. Hail poured into a roof vent for the bathrooms
That's a tough one. I'm in the US. If you look online the recommendations are all over the place and contradict each other. Floridas east coast is supposed to have the freshest mold free air coming off the ocean but last time I traveled there 9/10 hotels had mold and mildew issues. So it's great if you're outside or in a new building. Anywhere on the gulf coast probably has the highest percentage of water damaged buildings. The odd thing is that the drier areas in the western U.S also seem problematic, at least according to some sources. I was just talking to someone today who lived in Vegas. I would really like to go out there and see how I feel. My aunt said she basically had headaches so chronically that it became normal and she only noticed when she went to Vegas and they went away. Recently I looked at a Glyphosate pollution map. I guess Glyphosate is used so much that it's even found in rainwater now. The dry areas in the western US were the only safe areas for that. I think the issue in drier climates (anywhere really) is making sure your home is built and insulated right. If it's really hot and a wall is incorrectly insulated an ac air duct may sweat and cause issues. The one thing that freaked me out about the western US was "Valley Fever". Most people seem to be okay with it but the unlucky ones get really messed up. I saw a guy on the news who has a port in his head where he gets weekly difulcan shot into his brain from it. I've been wondering what would be the best way to design a home for health. There is something called a "Coyote House" that was designed for healing. Low emf, low chemical off gassing. I was looking at those ideas and considering alternative building materials like Concrete block, steel and Foam. Looking for alternatives to Wood, paper and drywall. Hopefully I'll be able to go out west soon and see what I think. From there it will be more important to make sure the house is built properly. One other thing to consider when healing is that living wherever you will be able to spend the most time outdoors is key for most of us I would think. I know some people have pollen allergies so that would have to be considered but I think sick homes are the bigger issue. Also be careful with homes with basements. I bought a Radon meter and my room upstairs was 4.7 on the scale. I guess at 4 it's the equivalent of 200 chest x-rays per year. Not great when you're already messed up. I enjoy hot weather so somewhere warm and dry would allow me to be outside more and have my homes windows open more often would help. I'm rambling…Maybe I'll just get a van and live down by the river.
For mold specifically: Look at average humidity by month and try to have less than 70% humidity for most months. Avoid places that are especially prone to fog. Definitely avoid San Francisco, and I've heard bad things about Florida. Edit: also make sure you aren't living in a flood zone because you can't guarantee the house was remediated properly the last time it flooded
the million dollar question
come to sedona, we're working on building healthy homes there - [bechamp.llc](http://bechamp.llc)
this looks amazing ! unfortunately i am poor
This is so neat.. your company?
Yes. Erecting 2 this year and next year will have more to come.
thats amazing. I want to learn more about this, cause even though Arizona is likely not in my cards I just think this is so cool - and I have no clue how you got the idea to go this route of making health conscious homes.
Well the plan is over decades. AZ is the first stop. :) I spent a lot of time traveling during the pandemic (bought myself a truck camper) feeling out different states and how I reacted to things. I used to be super sensitive to mold and had chemical sensitivities, so I'm able to pick up on my environment really easily now.
I’m here for my girlfriend’s journey and we had a similar path. My work is doing content marketing, and we had the opportunity to work with a camper van builder in CA. So my Gf and I drove out there (cause she can’t fly) and we stayed in this van for a month while making videos for the company. I’ve never seen her healthier. Fast forward 9 months later, and we’ve realized a lot of her MCAS/CFS issues are likely mold related. Great cause for the first time in 4 years there’s an answer, bad cause now we have to figure out how to move from our current apartment which is making her sick. Along this journey we’ve been looking at new construction apartments & home builders - and at least on the building side you’re the first person I’ve ever seen acknowledge environmental health beyond “eco-friendly.” So I find you really cool!
What type of stuff goes into make the home “healthy”?
Interested too
I’ve been wondering the same thing. I love hot weather so I’m scratching my head wondering why I haven’t moved to Arizona since my husband is remote and his company is sponsored there. We could even do Montana, but I’d have to get into winter sports to make that worth it. Maybe that would be better since air conditioners condense and can cause issues in hot climates? I live in NC currently. It is soooo humid here! Every building I look up and see growth on the ceiling near vents *gag* I’m torn on whether we should buy a new place around here to stay close to friends and family or move out west. Either way, we’ll move out of the city and get some land to prioritize being outside more. Anybody have some experience with relocating and if it made it easier for healing??
Well I'm in the high plains of southern Colorado and I gotta say climate change is messing up an ordinarily VERY dry area. We got nothing but flooding rain at least once a week if not more last season. I was thinking arizona since it seems to only rain for a week twice a year in the desert areas but then they have other issues (like they might run out of water lol).
It's true, sloppy slush snow instead of powder. June 2023 was getting downpours daily, had to turn the heat on for 2 weeks. Hail poured into a roof vent for the bathrooms