The Smart Living Handbook

487 Pages·2014·7.42 MB·English

by  Melissa Wittig

All correspondence to the publishers The Smart Living Handbook PO Box 4224
Briar Hill 3088
Victoria Australia
First published 2014
© Melissa Wittig and Danielle King (content assigned) With thanks to:
WordLaundry - Editor
Sharon Westin-Shaw Graphic Design - Book design Canva.com - Illustrations Nicola May Design
- Graphic Design - Adverts (pages 332 and 334) The right of Melissa Wittig to be identified as the
author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patents and
Designs Acts (Australia).
The right of Danielle King to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in
accordance with the Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts (Australia).
The right of Belinda Thackeray to be identified as a professional contributor of content to the Low
Allergy Sustainable Garden section has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright,
Patents and Designs Acts (Australia).
This publication is copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other
electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the relevant author/s or
contributor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other
non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. Any person who does any unauthorised act in
relation to this publication may be liable to criminal and civil claims for damages.
This publication is designed to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter
covered at the time of research. The nature of some content is subject to changes in the market
place, local rules and regulations and individual circumstances. It is sold with the understanding
that readers use the content for informational purposes only and not intended for the treatment or
diagnosis of individual disease or issues. Please visit a qualified professional in the medical, local
building, sustainability, housing or other specialty sector regarding your specific need before
acting on information.
This publication does not endorse any of the findings and methodology in the scientific studies
referenced. References are made to these studies to illustrate the varied findings associated with
products, chemicals, pollutants and sustainability issues in Australian homes and the potential
health concerns associated with them.
eISBN: 978-0-99252161-5
Published by Healthy Interiors & Green Moves Australia A Catalogue-in-Publication is available
from the National Library of Australia.
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Dedicated to …a future where our children
can live a healthy, affordable, and
sustainable life,
in surroundings free from health altering and
environmentally damaging
pollution and substances.
For you:
Lane, Paige and Ryan Thank you to our partners and families
who have missed many days and nights with
us for this book to be brought to life Melissa and Danielle
Testimonial
Finally a book that recognises the relationship between energy efficiency
and health in the home! Well written, in plain English, this is a great
reference book for consumers, homeowners and industry professionals.
As an education tool it will help new home owners to make not only the
right decisions, but also potentially save a considerable amount of
money.
For those who already have been living in their home for a long time, this
book is an eye opener and a trigger for action! - Jan Brandjes
Who is Jan Brandjes?
Jan Brandjes is an environmental building consultant with over 30 years
of international experience in energy efficient building and indoor air
quality issues. In Australia he developed a number of concept homes
under the labels of ‘Ecohome’, ‘The Sunbury Healthy House’ and ‘The
‘Economical Home’. His main focus is now on training and educating
industry and consumers of the benefits of sustainable and healthy
buildings.
About the authors
Author - Melissa Wittig
Melissa Wittig is an accomplished ‘health focused’ interior designer,
author of the Healthy Home app, writer and mother. With a passion for
healthy indoor environments it was the culmination of her professional
property/design experience and role as a mum that ignited the
development of her business, Healthy Interiors.
Melissa has a Diploma of Interior Design and is a licensed estate agent
with a Grad Cert in Human Resource Management. She has combined
her property, design and logistics skills to specialise in educating
consumers about designing and creating healthy homes.
Melissa has shared her knowledge on television and radio and has
articles published in various mediums internationally. Speaking
engagements have included the International Industry Seminar Series for
Decoration & Design/International Furniture Fair in Sydney, Australia and
state-based exhibitions. The Healthy Home app written by Melissa was a
finalist in the 2013 Australian Mobile Awards and has been featured in
Australia’s leading sustainable magazines.
www.healthyinteriors.com.au
What made you choose to work in the sustainable
living sector?
living sector?
Having worked in the property sector followed by the design sector, I
recognised that in many areas of both industries (professional and
individual) consumers are making decisions that create a lasting legacy
for buildings, occupants and communities. At the same time as
recognising a professional need for sustainable principles, I was faced
with personal health challenges within my family that were linked with
environmental causes or triggers.
As a result of research and identifying a documented link between health
and the home environment, as a mother and professional I felt compelled
to explore a healthy, sustainable approach to design and interiors.
Melissa’s story
When I was studying in the field of property and human resources as a
young adult, a career in sustainability and healthy interiors was not on my
radar. After working in the property sector and further studies in interior
design, it was parenthood 14 years ago that started a deep interest in the
way we lived and the connection between the health of our family and our
home environment. Research over many years along with personal and
professional experiences has culminated into a career that has reinforced
my belief that everything happens for a reason.
My health-focused interior design career is what I like to think of as my
silver lining to years of health challenges within our family. These
challenges have inspired my research over the years - findings of which
have helped create a healthy and sustainable design ethos in my work.
An interest in issues associated with healthy homes is something that
runs deep and personal. As a young woman I was diagnosed with
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which at the time was largely
unspoken about with very little information available. Some research
suggests links to environmental pollutants, such as outlined in the
Endocrine Society’s statement of 2009. As a consequence of PCOS, I
struggled with pregnancies, a miscarriage, and when finally blessed with
struggled with pregnancies, a miscarriage, and when finally blessed with
children we were challenged with their skin issues, allergies and recurring
respiratory problems.
My journey of discovery into products, materials and finishes in our home
began while I was reading the label of a major brand baby shampoo
bottle as my daughter bathed. I was shocked by what I found. The
realisation that harmful ingredients were present in products that we had
trusted opened a floodgate of questions about all our household
products. These led to further questions, and the discovery of a
disturbing amount of documentation from authorities that linked
chemicals used in the home with health concerns. Material safety data
sheets and product labels became essential reading. After investigating
the consumables we were using in our home, I moved on to explore
materials and finishes we had used to renovate our home with, before we
had children.
It became very obvious that our home had been filled with many indoor
environmental toxins, and the quality of our indoor air was compromised
from our consumables, common daily practices and the way we had
renovated our house. Our home had been contributing to our health
challenges, and in some instances triggering them.
The more research I found (across many disciplines) highlighting the
connection between the home and health, the more motivated I was to
learn more. I would have valued knowing what I now know before we
bought our first house, before we had our children, before we exposed
our family to things that could have been avoided. If I’d known these
things, we could have eliminated some of our health challenges. I wish
someone had given me the information in this book which is the very
reason I wanted to write this for you. Creating a home and a family are
two of life’s treasured experiences; hopefully with these insights you can
make informed decisions to navigate your family through what is
becoming a complex world of consumerism.
Helping families design, create and live well in healthy homes is
rewarding. It’s also extremely satisfying to know that many of the healthy
choices for us also benefit the health of our environment and can improve