You can eat healthy foods or avoid processed foods, but if you use synthetic materials in your home, harmful substances will still enter your body. Building or renovating with ecological, sustainable materials, on the other hand, ensures a healthier indoor environment.
Consider materials such as straw, loam, kalei, wood, bamboo, rice husk, lime, hemp, cork, flax and cotton. Many of these natural materials regulate humidity naturally, preventing mold and moisture problems. This is a big advantage over synthetic materials, which often contain harmful chemicals. These substances swirl through your home and can affect your long-term health.
In addition, natural materials purify the air in your home, contributing to a fresher and cleaner living environment. Ecological building materials also bring a sense of calm and balance to your home because you are literally bringing nature inside. This creates a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere, something synthetic materials can never provide.
Ecological building is not a trend. Before synthetic materials existed, houses were routinely built with natural materials. All over the world there are examples of traditional building techniques that used what nature had to offer:
- Swedish wooden houses: In Scandinavia, homes were built for centuries from wood, a naturally insulating material. These houses are durable, offer excellent thermal properties and fit perfectly in cold climates.
- Earth houses in Africa: In many African countries, houses were made of loam or clay mixed with straw. These materials provide excellent insulation against heat and regulate humidity. The use of loam also provides breathable walls, which prevents mold.
- Thatched farmhouses in the Netherlands: Reed has been used for centuries as a roofing material for farms and houses. It is not only waterproof and insulating, but also has a long life if properly maintained. This is an excellent example of a renewable material that is functional and aesthetic.
- Adobe houses in South America: In regions such as Mexico and Peru, adobe houses were built with a mix of clay, sand and organic materials such as straw. These thick walls provide excellent thermal mass, keeping the houses cool in the summer and retaining heat in the winter.
- Straw bale houses in the US: In the early 20th century, houses were built in Nebraska using straw bales as a building material. These houses have excellent insulating properties and are also sustainable because straw is a renewable by-product of agriculture.
We are now returning to that wisdom because it is not only better for the environment, but also for our health. Natural materials reduce pollution, improve the indoor environment and contribute to a soothing living environment. It is time to leave synthetics behind and rebuild as our ancestors did – with nature as our ally.
