The Top FIVE principles

Healthy Indoor Air

Follow these easy steps to
improve indoor air quality TODAY
  • Supply enough clean, fresh outside air and reduce air pollutants and irritants inside your home
  • Prevent exposure to toxic molds, yeasts and bacteria as  well as dust and allergens
  • Use materials with a pleasant or neutral smell
  • Minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields and wireless radiation
  • Use natural, nontoxic materials with the least amount of chemicals and radioactivity

Thermal and Acoustic Comfort

Follow these steps to feel
comfortable in your home
  • Strive for a well-balanced ratio between thermal insulation and heat retention as well as indoor surface and air temperatures
  • Use hygroscopic materials and furniture
  • Keep the moisture content of new construction as low as possible
  • Prefer radiant heat for heating
  • Optimize room acoustics and control noise, including infrasound

Human Based Design

Nature is the ultimate standard
  • Take harmonic proportion and form into consideration
  • Nurture the sensory perceptions of sight, hearing, smell, and touch
  • Maximize day lighting and choose non-flicker lighting sources and color schemes that closely match natural light
  • Base interior and furniture design on physiological and ergonomic findings
  • Promote local building traditions and craftsmanship

Sustainable environmental performance

Preserve Nature - Live Efficient
  • Minimize energy consumption and use renewable energy
  • Avoid causing environmental harm when building new or renovating
  • Conserve natural resources and protect plants and animals
  • Choose materials and life cycles with the best environmental performance, favoring regional building materials
  • Provide the best possible quality of drinking water

Socially connected and ecologically sound communities

Grow your own food

  • Design the infrastructure for well-balanced mixed use: short distances to work, shopping, schools, public transit, essential services, and recreation
  • Create a living environment that meets human needs and protects the environment
  • Provide sufficient green space in rural and urban residential areas
  • Strengthen regional and local supply networks as well as self-sufficiency
  • Select building sites that are located away from sources of contamination, radiation, pollutants, and noise