After paying off a 30 year mortgage it would be nice to save those payment dollars for retirement security and enjoy living in a mortgage free home. While it sounds like a pleasant dream many homes end up being nightmares. After owning our current home for 27 years it seems it was not as great an investment as we had hoped for and now seems more like an annuity payout to service providers and a big money pit demanding dollars. Shortly after moving in, the lack of high quality and proper planning by the builder became evident. Each repair vendor would gladly explain how the builder cut corners with cheap labor and materials causing the issue and then charging us a big bill to fix it correctly. Now as we invest big bucks to replace half of the original inefficient single pain to double pane windows we can look back and see the many hidden flaws this house contained. Our house is too big for two people and the bills and taxes are too high so it is time to look for new ideas and options to help us convert to conservation construction.
People are spending a fortune on a place to live that is a chemical health hazard and quickly become a money pit due to maintenance, payments, repairs and renovations. This is leading to major emotional, financial, health, stress and wellness issues.
We recently went to look at some new Del Webb homes near the Woodlands and I was impressed but still a bit disappointed with the cost in relation to design flaws and lack of eco friendly and green building innovations that are possible. The architects are still designing fancy floor plans which will cause energy, maintenance and repair issues in the future. In some neighborhoods we saw dark shingle roofs. Only an energy company would think using use dark shingles in Texas was a good idea so the sun could heat the home even hotter and require more energy to cool it.
It is exciting to learn new ideas, information and innovation on conservation construction and green building strategies for our Belize Eco Village project. It seems the global economy, energy issues and environmental concerns are helping more people look for better building options. Unfortunately many people in the US lack the information, incentive and insight to demand better building materials and standards. Our body is our temple for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well being and our home is our sanctuary. Valuable manifesting mantras to remember are “my home is my sanctuary” and “my happiness, health and home impacts my family and financial freedom.”
In the US the home builders are determining the majority of materials and methods for our houses. Most builders want to build a fancy looking house that will catch the buyers eye for the least amount of money possible. In Austria, Germany and Switzerland they build for durability, efficiency, longevity and quality. While homes in the US may have a ten year Home Owner Warranty (HOW – required) they chose appliances, equipment, materials and supplies that will maybe last for the warranty hopefully. Builders are also well known for using lower cost and less skilled labor that may deliver lower quality work. Companies are promoting and producing nice looking homes that are built with many unhealthy building materials. As a result we end up with a nice looking home that is full of harmful chemicals and toxins. After we buy the home we then fill it with more products that contain more harmful chemicals and toxins that off gas for years. These products may be contributing to the rise in health challenges, immune issues, inflammation and sickness due to the excessive use of chemicals and synthetic compounds in manufacturing these products.
It seems too many apartments, condos, houses, modular homes, prefabs, townhomes and trailer homes are built to look nice but not last long enough to justify the payments and price tag. People are spending a fortune on a place to live that is a chemical health hazard and quickly become a money pit due to maintenance, payments, repairs and renovations. This is leading to major emotional, financial, health, stress and wellness issues. This information is intended to help educate, inspire and motivate people in the US and everywhere to make living in a eco friendly green home an integral part of their identity and lifestyle. The challenge is to place more focus and importance on homes being built with affordability, durability, eco friendly, efficiency and sustainable standards. When we make our health and home top priorities we will stop the housing crisis and start a healthy home evolution. This post will share simple suggestions and strategies to improve every aspect for building and maintaining a healthy home.
US Buyers Beware
Ads, marketing and media are influencing people to buy, lease and rent housing that is over priced and under delivered. Too many builders get people to fantasize on fancy and frill features when the person would be better focused on financial and functional facets first. As a result too many people are wasting their money on low quality and high cost health hazard homes. Big Ag, Big Bank, Big Chem, Big Oil and Big Pharma seem to have the influence, money and power to control and dominate the trends in the global markets. They are not looking out for peoples health, homes and well being. Spending money on cheap, harmful and poor quality housing will rob people of their financial freedom and future retirement. Here are some of the main financial and health hazards in US housing today:
- A lack of quality controls combined with outdated building methods and standards resulted in homes that are not optimally insulated which cost us a fortune in excess energy usage. Our builder also left a secret space for termites to enter the foundation which cost us thousands to repair.
- Abundant use of adhesives, chemicals, glues, solvents, synthetic compounds and toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in homes are exposing people to health hazards.
- Cheap and inappropriate landscaping leads to excessive maintenance, upkeep and watering. Non native plants are prone towards more disease, drought and pests. Many tree roots end up damaging foundations, pipes, sidewalks and curbs in our neighborhood. A poorly chosen short life hybrid ornamental tree cost our community many millions of dollars to remove and replace.
- Cutting corners on the attic, cooling system and passive design caused excessive energy bills for cooling and heating. We had to pay big bucks to have the attic properly insulated and vented.
- Electrical wiring, routers, smart meters and wifi exposure subjects residents to harmful Electro-Magnetic Frequencies (EMF) radiation while at home.
- Hot water heaters in the attic is dumb. A small leak that went unnoticed cost us many thousands of dollars in damages and repair. Water lines from the hot water heater often run a long distance wasting a lot of water in the process.
- Jacuzzi tubs harbor and hide a lot of bacteria while also encourage people to waste water.
- Lower quality materials deteriorate faster and require more maintenance, repair and replacement. Cheaper paint and low quality wood caused our siding to rot and be replaced and repainted.
- Poorly built and designed homes require excessive energy bills, maintenance and repair.
- Poorly insulated homes require more use of cooling and heating systems which are expensive to maintain and operate.
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Rain shower heads encourage people to waste water.
Rain shower heads and benches encourage people to waste a lot of water in the shower.
- Styrofoam insulation off gases styrene gas which is carcinogenic.
- Very few builders and developers design for passive and positive benefits from orienting a house in relation to the sun and trees.
- Windows are designed for show rather than savings which means you will spend more for energy bills, replacement and upkeep. Our First Colony Community restrictions call for a window pane look which is difficult to clean and excessively expensive. We are paying a lot more to replace the original single pane glass with coated double pane glass because of a frivolous fancy pane theme versus focusing on a financial and functional foundation. These panes have become a financial pain for me and keeping many people from replacing them for the long term energy savings.
Banks, builders and buyers must realize there is a direct correlation between the quality of a home and the long term health of the country and residents. Poor materials and workmanship are leading to deterioration in our health and wealth while damaging our bodies and brains. Remember our home is our castle and we must demand it be built with better design, efficiency, health, materials, safety, sustainability and workmanship in mind.
As mentioned in previous blog posts most people are brainwashed and hypnotized into believing the ads and marketing hype promoting new, rental and used home choices. We must invest the energy, money and time to educate our selves and demand better housing construction and design standards. Years of research and travel for better fitness, health, nutrition and wellness practices has helped me gain access to great ideas, insights and inspiration that will yield significant benefits in developing and designing homes for our Belize Eco Village transition town.
Buy from Better Builders
As people learn more about conservation construction, green and sustainable buildings to make better investments in a happy, healthy and holistic home and lifestyle the global economy will improve. By avoiding unhealthy habits and habitats people will improve the health of their country and themselves.
A lack of awareness about conservation construction, green construction and sustainable communities prevents countries and people from creating a more eco friendly, prosperous and sustainable economy. Once people understand the benefits of building and living in Adobe, Stabilized Compressed Earth Block (SCEB), Container, Earthbag, Modular, Recycled, Tiny houses and Yurt homes they can improve their finances, health and lifestyle. (Look for more posts on these in the near future)
A lack of basic construction, energy, housing, materials, waste management and water knowledge worldwide is the big contributor to disease and poverty. Better building combined with better nutrition will have a big beneficial impact for people around the globe.
There are proven principles for building better buildings and a big need in the US for education on eco friendly, efficient, green and sustainable housing.
People are showing more signs of chemical toxicity from their homes and work sites. This is most likely the result from being around toxic chemicals, fertilizers, fungicides, heavy metals, herbicides, insecticides, materials and pesticides.
There are proven principles for building better buildings and a big need in the US for education on earth friendly, efficient, green and sustainable housing.
This blog is a consolidation of suggestions and thoughts to help people convert to conservation construction and provide healthy homes around the globe. While many people are happy just to have a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in we must use conservation construction to provide sustainable shelters. As you do your homework to determine the long term financial cost to the US and the environment we will learn how important it is for us to make massive improvements in conscious conservation construction design and housing options. Housing is one of our biggest cost of living expenditures and financial drains and requires a massive investment of energy, money and time to maintain. We must create affordable, earth friendly and sustainable housing for all people in order to help stop the pollution, poverty and wars.
Healthy Habits & Habitats
In 2017 Morningstar NEWS will focus 50% on Healthy Habits and 50% on Healthy Habitats and Sustainability Systems. As we educate people on our future Belize Eco Village and wellness center we are researching and role modeling proven principles. Our vision is attracting a wide variety of conscious and passionate people to help design, build and live in our earth friendly, healthy, sustainable and transition town community. Being healthy as we invest, live, retire, travel, visit and work results from a happy, healthy and heavenly lifestyle. We invite ideas, insights and inspiration to help us focus on planning and progress. Progress posts will share solutions, strategies, suggestions and systems aw we design and develop the 149 acres into a Belize Eco Village.
Where is Your Gap?
What actions, behaviors, beliefs and decisions regarding your habits and habitats are harming your happiness and health? What will it take to better protect your family and self from the health hazards of unhealthy homes? What healthy habitat are you willing to invest in to start being a part of the transition town movement and stop being part of the problem? Only your investment of energy, money and time will help you learn how to convert to conservation construction and earth friendly conservation construction.
Mastery Action Plan (MAP)
It is well documented that our daily habits and habitats greatly impact our happiness and health. There is a wealth of wisdom regarding healthy habits to start and health hazards to stop. What are you willing to do differently to protect your family with healthy home choices? Creating a healthy habitat code of conduct and mastery action plan will enhance the quality of life now and in the future. We cannot sustain our happiness and health without healthy changes and choices. Are you ready to update and upgrade your old habitat? Learn more about the benefits of transition towns and the transition movement. For ideas, insights and inspiration watch Transition 1.0 and Transition 2.0 Maybe these videos will inspire you to set an intention be part of a Transition Town. When we focus our energy and intentions on conservation construction and sustainable living anything is possible.
Call to Action
What comments, commitments or concerns come to mind regarding healthy habits and habitats? Are you ready to learn more and join our terrific team?
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