3 Ways New Homes are Healthier than Older Homes
One of the best things about January is that our New Year’s resolutions are holding strong. Since our health is on our minds (and our waistlines shrinking everyday) I thought this might be a perfect time to share a blog about all the interesting health benefits of building a new home, versus buying an older one. Listed below are 3 reasons why new custom homes are actually healthier than older homes!
1. Better Air Quality
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90% of our time indoors – and the bulk of that is in our home. Yes, you heard right! 90%! When it comes to older homes, poor air quality is a common problem residents face. Children and older adults are most susceptible to the effects of poor air quality. These realities are particularly important for 17.7 million adults, and 6.3 million children in America who suffer from asthma.
With new studies conducted by The International Energy Agency, they have found that new environmentally friendly homes:
- Reduce symptoms of respiratory disease,
- Reduce stress and infectious disease,
- Reduce risk of cancer, arthritis, depression, and symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
At AV Architects + Builders, we build luxury custom homes with HVAC systems that provide more plentiful fresh air than older homes. They are constructed with eco-friendly building materials and do an excellent job at moisture control – which prevents mold and improves overall air quality.
2. Abundant Natural Light
Unlike many older homes, our designs maximize natural sunlight. We optimize the orientation of our homes, create indoor/outdoor living spaces that help connect us to nature, and include large, well-placed windows that provide abundant natural light.
You’ve surely heard sunlight is important to your health, and provides our skin with vitamin D, “the sunshine nutrient”. According to healthline.com, Vitamin D prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers. And yet, approximately 42% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient (remember, Americans spend 90% of our times indoors). Natural light also helps defend against seasonal depressive disorder (SAD) and improves sleep patterns which is critical to our well-being and mental health.
So, what should be key feature of your home?
Incorporate lots (and lots) of natural light.
3. Vacation Style Living
At AV Architects + Builders, our company motto is Vacation Style LivingTM, and our home designs make you feel like you are on vacation every time you walk through the front door. Research has shown that there are many health benefits associated with vacation:
- Rejuvenates the body
- Recharges the heart
- Produces positive emotional levels
- Encourages family bonding
- Inspires us to exercise, seek adventure, re-center
We believe you should enjoy these benefits all year round, and not just 2 weeks of the year. Wouldn’t you agree?
Let Get Started On Building Your Northern VA Modern Custom Home Today!
No matter what you are looking for in the home of your dreams, you can trust AV Architects + Builders in Northern VA to handle your entire project for you so you won’t have to. We strive to create a living space that’s fully-functional and aligns with your lifestyle needs to ensure the most comforting environment. Our team is efficient and will work together with you each step of the way to develop a new luxury custom home design and give you the home you have always wanted.
You can learn more about our recent custom home projects here!
Francisca Alonso is CEO and Co-Founder of AV Architects + Builders, an award-winning design-build firm that creates extraordinary custom homes in Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. She can be reached at 703-865-5065 or at [email protected]