Resources for your New Construction Healthy Home Journey
If you have arrived at this page, you likely sent us an email looking for guidance as you navigate your journey in planning the new construction of your healthy home. I have compiled several (free and paid) resources that can educate you on different aspects of the design and construction process. While these resources do not replace working with professionals, they are a great place to start.
Note: some of the links listed may be affiliate links.
If you are wondering how I put this list together, here’s what informed me: As I have navigated my own home planning and construction journey, I found the resources listed here to be useful. But, there are a few listed here that I have NOT had a chance to explore and I note that. I listed them because they might be helpful for you.
I hope you dig into this list, but if you find it a bit overwhelming, subscribe to our newsletter and you will be the first to know when I launch my course: Homeowner Preparation for Planning Your Healthy Home
Wishing you health, Noralinda Ureste - Flourish Here Retreat
Podcasts
Podcasts are such a great way to educate yourself when you are on the go. Here are some my favorites.
-
Andrew Pace is the host of Non Toxic Environments Podcast, where he features his expertise in healthy building products, along with guest experts. He is a Healthy Home Concierge and founder of the oldest healthy building supply company (The Green Design Center) in the US. While I have been listening to Andy's podcast for years, I always learn something new to make a home healthier - he is a wealth of knowledge.
Website: https://thegreendesigncenter.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/non-toxic-environments-home-health-wellness/id1369344930
-
The Holistic Homes Podcast host Christine Cimabue, is a licensed home contractor, holistic home construction consultant, and course creator.
I really love the way she gets into the weeds on construction details, as I feel it’s important for homeowners to become knowledgeable about their home’s construction. This podcast is good way to start that journey if you are unfamiliar with home construction.
Website: https://www.byholistichomes.com/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vIIIq6vzjVnljCtLAeTg9
Course: https://www.byholistichomes.com/freshstart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine?igsh=MXJsYnY0ZnNvM2s3eQ==
-
Host, Kate Hamblet of Balanced Architecture, sheds light on many different elements of a healthy home. From construction to finishes, her take on the a healthy home is refreshing.
Website: https://balancedarchitecture.com/custom-design/
Podcast: https://balancedarchitecture.com/podcast/
Course: https://balancedarchitecture.mykajabi.com/store
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balanced_architecture?igsh=MTFld25mdnY0M3hp
-
The Your Project Shephard Podcast Host, Curtis Lawson, is an accomplished home builder, owner representative, litigation consultant in Houston, TX. As a homeowner who wants to understand the custom home building journey, I recommend you listen to the first season of this podcast sequentially, following the story about a couple that goes into the custom home build process without fully understanding the consequences of their decisions.
While the podcast is not specifically about healthy homes, it illustrates how novice homeowners can get off track and over budget quickly when not consulting with professionals.
Website: https://yourprojectshepherd.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-project-shepherd-construction-podcast/id1661981043
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourprojectshepherd?igsh=ZzVsbDdxcGdydGM0
-
The Get it Right with Undercover Architect Podcast is hosted by Australian Architect, Amelia Lee. She is an Architect with 30+ yrs of experience who knows what it takes to design and construct a home. While she no longer designs homes, she guides homeowners through their home building journey with her Home Method online course. If you are a homeowner in the US, there are some terminology discrepancies, but in general the podcast provide so much valuable insight to the home construction process. Season 1-4 are a great place to start.
Website: https://undercoverarchitect.com/
Podcast: https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast/
Course: https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undercoverarchitect?igsh=dThjbnpmYWVndTQy
-
Triple board certified Building Biologist and Interior Designer Lauren Riddei, hosts the haus Holistics Podcast where she interviews experts who are in the business of making homes healthier.
Website: https://www.hausholistics.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haus-holistics/id1827968233
-
The Awakening Spaces Podcast, hosted by Ashley Spanovich, explores the profound connection between our physical environments and our inner consciousness. While this is a new podcast, it is bound to be full of Ashley's deep experience in building and renovating healthy homes.
Website: https://awakeningspaces.com/
Course: https://awakeningspaces.com/ccc-registration
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningspaces?igsh=MTk1eG9jaGxjaXFvZg==
-
The Beyond Building Defects Facebook Group, was started by Jen Jobart of Practical Healthy Homes in an effort to figure out how to build a mold-safe and low-emf home for her and her family who were suffering from environmental illness. Since she started the group, she became a triple-certified building biologist and a Passive House Tradesman. She also authored several courses at Build Your Healthy Home. Additionally, she consults with homeowners on their new construction healthy homes.
Website: https://www.practicalhealthyhomes.com/
Facebook Group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/750525386129151/?ref=share
-
Cristina Greenfield of Conscious Healthy Home is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson and Building Biology Advocate. Her Instagram feed is full of valuable healthy home information. Additionally, she shares her family's story of mold illness and has made it her mission to help families create homes they can thrive in.
Website: https://www.conscioushealthyhome.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscioushealthyhome?igsh=MnhyeWR3OTdlYTI=
-
Christine Cimabue of Holistic Homes shares her tips for healthy home construction in her Instagram feed. As a licensed contractor in California, she has a passion for healthy homes and offers consulting and courses.
Website: https://www.byholistichomes.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscioushealthyhome?igsh=MnhyeWR3OTdlYTI=
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vIIIq6vzjVnljCtLAeTg9
-
Ashley Spanovich of Awakening Spaces is a licensed Interior Designer, triple-certified Building Biologist, and integrative health coach. She shares her healthy home design and construction tips in her Instagram feed.
Website: https://awakeningspaces.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningspaces?igsh=MTk1eG9jaGxjaXFvZg==
-
The Home Performance YouTube Channel, is hosted by Corbett & Grace Lunsford. They demonstrate home performance testing methods to help you understand how small defects can impact your home. They also offer a course for homeowners who want to understand home performance. Additionally, you will find them on the PBS Series Home Diagnosis.
Website: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@homeperformance?si=2jRUpreMDB3m1LO-
Courses: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/crash-course
-
If you want to learn more about construction details and building science, check out The Build Show YouTube Channel. Hosted by Matt Risinger along with several expert design / construction professionals, produce several videos a week demonstrating how to build a resilient home in different climates. The Building Science Series goes in depth about how the forces of the universe can effect your home.
Website: https://buildshownetwork.com/
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@buildshow?si=lIyX1C_FRhpc9OBe
Course: https://buildshownetwork.com/bsn-series/build-science-101
Social media Accounts
These are accounts I follow and learn form. They share some great insight in the design and construction of homes.
Online reSources
These are some great resources that will help you as you educate yourself on materials, building science, and home construction.
-
Corrine Segura of My Chemical Free House provides detailed research and reviews on home construction products and materials. I really love the way her reviews are so detailed - very valuable for homeowners who sufffer from MCS.
Website: https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/
Substack: https://corinnesegura.substack.com
Book: https://amzn.to/4mNEH2l
-
The Building Biology Institute provides several free resources for professionals and homeowners on design, materials, emfs, and home goods.
Website: https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/
Free Resources: https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/free-downloads/
Courses: https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org/course/healthy-design-building/
-
Green Building Advisor is a great resource if you would like to dig into home construction and building science. While many of the articles are behind a paywall at GBA Prime, they have many free articles that you can read.
-
This is another home construction resource meant for design and construction professionals, but so important for a homeowner to understand. Joseph Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation provides free articles that will not only help you to understand building science, including how the invisible forces of universe impact our homes.
Website: https://buildingscience.com
Bookstore: https://buildingscience.com/bookstore
-
Another construction resource and while it's my least favorite resource, I have included it becuase it does provide a bunch of great info. It's just hard to navigate. Presented by the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, The Building America Solution Center focuses on home construction and is technical. The components section is the most useful and provides construction details.
-
I read the 3rd edition of Prescriptions for Healthy House back when I was taking courses with the Building Biology Institute. The 4th edition includes so much more information. It is dense with detailed information about how to incorporate many healthy elements to your new home construction. I have used it mostly as a reference.
Book: https://amzn.to/4mW3zFu
-
Pretty Good House was written by hosts of the BS(Building Science) and Beers show and is a comprehensive guide to constructing a well built light frame construction (stick frame) house. It includes many diagrams, images, and recommendations for healthy materials. I really love how they organize the information on home construction.
Book: https://amzn.to/45HCleJ
-
Moisture Control for Residential Buildings, written by Building Scientist Joe Lstiburek, is a technical guide for home construction in different climates. This book is dense, but if you really want to understand how water(in all its forms) can move through your home, I find his explanations thorough.
Physical Book: https://buildingscience.com/bookstore/books/moisture-control-residential-buildings
-
What Your Contractor Can't Tell You is a little outdated and I’ve talked to several contractors that don’t agree with many parts of the book. But, I feel it provides some insight for a homeowner, into what general contractors / builders have to balance through out construction.
Book: https://amzn.to/4fJvgia
-
The Hempcrete Book is near and dear to my heart, as we are building a cottage insulated with hempcrete at our retreat. If you are considering building a hempcrete home, you will find this book informative.
Book: https://amzn.to/4oLnSXC
Books Worth Reading
The books I list here are the ones I feel are most helpful for a homeowner who wants to build a healthy home. You don’t have to read all of these, but picking one or two would help you as you try to figure things out. Also, they don't replace working with a professional. Every site, climate, homeowner requires something different.
Books on my reading list
While I have not read these books, they come highly recommended by colleagues.
-
Corinne Segura provides so much information on her website, My Chemical-free House, I can only imagine the depth of information that she provides here. Hoping to pick this one up soon.
Book: https://amzn.to/4mNEH2l
-
Musing of an Energy Nerd, written by Green Building Advisor contributor. I have heard a lot of great things about this book and hope to read it soon.
Book: https://amzn.to/4lBjYOs
-
I have heard a lot of great things about this book. A House Needs to Breathe, or does it? is written by building scientist Allison Bailles of Energy Vanguard to dispel some of the myths around many home building practices.
Book: https://amzn.to/4mRlj4I
-
My respect for Building Biologist, John Banta, is immense. I look forward to reading his latest book, Mold Controlled.
Book: https://amzn.to/4mRlj4I
-
Build Your Healthy Home, started by Building Science Educator Jen Jobart, currently offers 2 separate courses to educate homeowners who want to build a new healthy home. Her courses address mold, EMFs and materials. It is very comprehensive and is delivered in text format, with audio coming soon. I love the companion workbook, as it guides a homeowner to thoughtfully consider their own project after every chapter.
Website: https://buildyourhealthyhome.teachable.com/?affcode=2372720_0jzefveo
-
The courses at the Building Biology Institute are meant for professionals, but many homeowners who want to dig into the details of building a healthy home enroll in these courses also. They are thorough, but do not replace working with professionals. Many courses are delivered in text format and some have accompany video.
Website: https://buildingbiologyinstitute.org
-
Created by licensed architect Cheryl Ciecko, Avoiding Mold offers courses and a membership program that educates homeowners on construction details that will help them avoid mold in their home. The course is delivered in video format.
Website: https://www.avoidingmold.com
-
Building Science for Architects, created by architect and building scientist Christina Williamson, is one of my favorite courses. While this course is made for architects, I felt it really helped me to understand the forces that are exerted on a building and the how they can lead to non-structural damage of a building. The course is delivered in video format.
-
Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect, offers pre-construction education for homeowners. While I have not enrolled in her HOME Method program, I have enrolled in her non-mentored DIY courses. They are rich with insight and sound advice. It’s definitely information I wish I had prior to starting our retreat. She delivers each course in video format. Note, she is Australian, so there are a few terminology discrepancies if you are American.
Website: https://undercoverarchitect.com
-
If you want to learn more about Pretty Good House framework, this is essentially the video version presented by Fine Home Building and taught by Architect Emily Mottram, one of the authors of Pretty Good House. The Sustainable Home Building Accelerator is delivered in video format. I have not taken this course, so I am unable to give first hand knowledge.
Website: https://finehomebuilding.mykajabi.com/sustainable-home-building-accelerator-series-sept-2023
-
I have not enrolled in this course, but I wanted to put it on the list. Creator, Christine Cimabue of Holistic Homes, presents her pre-construction framework to get homeowners started off on the right foot as they start their home design journey. Her course is delivered through video and PDF supplements.
-
Ashley Spanovich of Awakening Spaces is a licensed Interior Designer, triple-certified Building Biologist, and integrative health coach. She offers her Conscious Construction Container, also with several guides and DIY courses. While I have not been a student of her courses, Ashley has many credentials and vast experience in the Healthy Building space.
-
Architect Kate Hamblet of Balanced Architecture, offers The Sustainable Home Blueprint as a step-by-step guide for a sustainable and healthy home. I am not a student of this course, but Kate does offer so much great advice on her podcast, so I would guess her courses would be just as great.
Online Courses and Programs
I have worked through some of these courses and bought some of these digital products, and found them useful. Note though, they do not replace working with building and construction professionals.
Guides & Checklists
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
-
Cristina Greenfield of Conscious Healthy Home is a Lawyer, Certified Passive House Tradesperson and Building Biology Advocate. She has put together 2 guides that will help you with your search for a builder. While I have not purchased these guides, Cristina a very knowledgeable about the home building process and the guides would likely be robust.
10 Critical Questions: Builder Edition: https://www.conscioushealthyhome.com/store/p/10-critical-questions-builder-edition
Guide to Creating Your Builder Short List: https://www.conscioushealthyhome.com/store/p/guide-to-creating-your-builder-short-list
-
The Builder Brigade Checklists are a robust set of checklists to help you keep track of the hundreds of decisions you will be making as you plan the design and construction of your home. While this is not healthy home focused, there are many high performance details called out on the lists. But note, this list is not climate specific. I really love how many of the checklist items are linked to pictures, so you understand what they are referring to. They also provide periodic updates for free.
Website: https://builderbrigade.com
-
Organization is key for your new construction. Etsy lists several new home construction planners. While I have not purchased any listed, planners like these:
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=home%20construction%20planner&ref=auto-1&as_prefix=home%20constr