Saturday, April 26, 2025

Designing a Healthy Home: Systems for MCS, EHS, and Environmental Allergies

 

Creating a healthy home means focusing not only on non-toxic building materials, but also – and especially – on indoor air quality, pure water, thermal comfort, and electromagnetic safety.
The systems behind the walls are the hidden heart of the house: invisible yet crucial for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), or environmental allergies.
In this guide, we explore – practically and scientifically – how to design systems for a true "Good Health Home."

1. Breathing Clean Air: Ventilation and Indoor Air Purification

Indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the World Health Organization.
This is critical for people who spend most of their time at home or suffer from respiratory diseases and chemical sensitivity.

Main sources of indoor pollution:

  • Industrial furniture (formaldehyde and VOCs);

  • Paints, silicones, sealants, glues;

  • Treated woods and particle boards;

  • Pesticides and insecticides;

  • Air fresheners and cleaning agents;

  • Humidity and mold from poor ventilation and lighting.

Solutions to improve indoor air:

  • Passive natural ventilation: exploit temperature differences to create airflow.

  • Air exchangers: small devices that ensure continuous filtered air exchange without losing heat.

  • Portable air purifiers: models with metallic pre-filters, HEPA filters, and activated carbon; avoid perfumed models.

  • Positive pressure safe room: a sealed room where filtered air is pumped in to block VOCs and odors.

  • Seal all openings (doors, windows, air vents) and purify incoming air using ventilation systems designed for MCS and EHS, free from chemical filters, as recommended by Dr. William J. Rea.

Important advice from experts:

  • Avoid ozonators, ionizers, air fresheners, and chemical-based purifiers, as stressed by Dr. Grace Ziem in her Environmental Control Plan for Chemically Sensitive Patients.



2. Thermal Comfort: Low-Impact Heating and Cooling Systems

Heating and cooling impact indoor air, electromagnetic fields, and personal comfort.

Best heating options for a healthy home:

  • Radiant floor heating (spiral layout): even, comfortable heat without forced air (used at Casa Vallebona).

  • Pre-painted steel or stone radiators: VOC-free and MCS-friendly.

  • Infrared or refractory stone electric heaters: perfect for small spaces or emergencies (halogen heaters at Casa Vallebona).

  • Heat pumps: only for mild climates or when integrated with geothermal systems.

Special considerations:

  • Condensation LPG boilers are acceptable (as used at Casa Vallebona).

  • Avoid open fireplaces and wood stoves (unless sealed and used only for emergencies).

  • Fan coil units and air conditioning splits must be equipped with mechanical filters and managed carefully to minimize EMF exposure.

3. Water Purity: Safe Plumbing and Filtration Systems

Water is vital for health and detoxification, as highlighted by Dr. William Rea. Ideally, water should come from natural, untreated sources to maintain its life-giving ions.

Safe plumbing recommendations:

  • CE-certified stainless steel faucets without welding or glues.

  • Multilayer or screwed steel piping, avoiding heavy metals.

  • Mechanical sediment filters made of nylon or food-grade polyester.

  • Shower filters with activated carbon to remove chlorine and VOCs.

Avoid at all costs:

  • Copper and lead pipes,

  • Cheap uncertified faucets,

  • Fluoride filters,

  • Reverse osmosis without mineral reintegration.

4. Electromagnetic Safety: Minimizing EMF Exposure at Home

Electromagnetic field (EMF) protection is critical, especially for EHS individuals.

Safe electrical system design:

  • Automatic circuit breakers in bedrooms;

  • Total elimination of Wi-Fi and cordless phones;

  • Passive EMF shielding (special paints, metal meshes) for sensitive cases;

  • Shielded electrical wiring.

At Casa Vallebona, a star-shaped wiring system was installed (each outlet wired individually to the panel), with shielded cables and multiple wired Ethernet points to eliminate the need for Wi-Fi.



5. Home Hygiene, Disinfection, and Safety

Essential practices for a healthy home:

  • Cleaning with only 3% hydrogen peroxide or 95% food-grade ethanol; avoid chlorine, ammonia, bleach.

  • Use only neutral-cure, odorless silicone ("aquarium safe") for sealing.

  • Saunas should be made of untreated wood, free from glues and fragrances.

Want to Build a Home Like Casa Vallebona?

This article is based on "La Casa della Buona Salute" by Francesca Romana Orlando, an expert who designs homes and camper vans for MCS and EHS following Dr. William J. Rea’s Clinical Ecology and German Environmental Medicine principles.
Every element – from building materials to ventilation systems, from kitchen design to filtration choices – is aimed at creating a safe environment where health can be restored.

To learn more:

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