An Introduction to Building Biology | Interview with Narelle McDonald, Health Living Spaces - Episode 4 (Season 8 - A SIMPLE GUIDE TO A SUSTAINABLE HOME)

4 snips

Oct 22, 2018

Narelle McDonald, a Certified Building Biologist and Feng Shui Consultant, dives into the transformative world of Building Biology. She explains how our indoor environments impact health, linking modern construction practices to rising health issues. Narelle shares actionable tips for creating healthier homes, from mindful material choices to addressing indoor pollutants. Listeners will also learn about the importance of combining science and Feng Shui for holistic living. Plus, valuable resources for informed decisions on building products are highlighted.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

What is Building Biology?

Building biology studies how indoor environments affect occupant health and wellbeing, focusing on materials, electromagnetic fields, and air quality.
It originated in post-WWII Germany after discovering illnesses linked to rapid building and chemical emissions.

ANECDOTE

Narelle's Personal Health Story

Narelle suffered chronic respiratory issues after moving into a new flat with poor ventilation and synthetic materials.
She recovered only after leaving, sparking her passion for building biology focused on indoor environmental health.

ADVICE

Common Building Mistakes to Avoid

Prioritize site location, orientation, and harnessing natural energy to reduce heating, cooling, and condensation problems.
Choose low-toxicity materials and consider usage needs early to avoid common errors harming indoor health.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

So, what is Building Biology? I find many homeowners aren’t aware of this field, and yet it’s been around for a while, and can be a really helpful resource if you’re trying to create a home that supports your health and wellbeing.

There is a lot that is do-able in your existing home, new build or renovation, that often doesn’t cost anymore but simply requires some knowledge and desire to put into practice.

SHOW NOTES:

Narelle McDonald is a certified Building Biologist & Feng Shui Consultant the founder of Healthy Living Spaces, President of the Australian Society of Building Biologists, and advisor for Chemfree Community.

Her focus is on environmental health for the home with a special interest in children’s wellbeing.

There are many elements in a building that can affect quality of life, physical health and emotional wellbeing. Improving our health in all aspects of our life is important as everything is interrelated. Building Biologists have long been aware of this and consider our homes our third skin because of this connection.

Narelle is passionate about providing education and empowerment to those she works with to bring about positive lasting changes. Creating healthy buildings, conscious consumers and bringing balance and harmony.

Narelle believes by combining both the science of Building Biology and the ancient art of Feng Shui this holistic approach enables us to create amazing spaces to flourish in.

Some of the topics we discuss are:

What Building Biology is.
Some key mistakes homeowners make when renovating or building that can impact their own health and the quality of their home’s environment.
How to work with a Building Biologist and find one that’s reputable.
What are the simple ways to improve your home’s ability to support your health, whether building or renovating - that anyone can achieve.
Some useful resources to learn more about Building Biology for your home.

I often find homeowners can get super scared about this information … EMFs (or Electro Magnetic Fields), VOCs (or Volatile Organic Compounds), toxic substances etc. Narelle has some fantastic knowledge to share on how you, as an informed homeowner, can deal with this and educate yourself.

This is about you being empowered as you create your sustainable home. Listen to Narelle’s actionable advice now.

FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.