Most of us know the feeling of living in a home that is too hot in summer and too cold in winter. But how can discomforts at home impact your physical and mental health?

Research shows that if your home has good ventilation and indoor environment quality, low toxic materials and abundant daylight, you’ll be rewarded with improved health and wellbeing.

In fact, a study by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute found that people who live in houses that are damp, cold or mouldy are more likely to suffer from poor mental health and get respiratory conditions like asthma.

For many of us our home is the most important purchase we’ll make, here are four key things to consider when looking for a healthy home.

  1. An advanced ventilation system reduces mould, prevents heat loss, monitors contaminants and reduces carcinogenic pollutants by up to 75% and pollen pollutants by 99%.i
  2. Electric cooking and heating removes fossil-fuels like gas from the home. If you’re one of the 2.7 million Australians living with asthma, a healthy home will ensure you experience more symptom-free days, reducing the likelihood of asthma symptoms by up to 42%.ii
  3. High quality LED lights provide consistent ‘flicker-free’ lighting that reduces eye strain and the risk of headaches.
  4. Insulation and double-glazed windows improve energy efficiency, reduce noise pollution and decrease condensation which can lead to dangerous mould spores.

Through its Green Star Homes certification, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is trying to make it easier for you to know how healthy a home will be before you buy or build. 

Find out more about healthy homes.