Healthy Home Decisions We’re Making in Our New Build

One of the things I’ve been most intentional about during our home build is making choices that support a healthier home long-term.

I’m not trying to create a perfectly “non-toxic” house, because I don’t think that’s realistic.

My goal is simply to make thoughtful decisions where we can — especially with the things that will be behind the walls, difficult to change later, or used every single day.

These are a few of the healthy home decisions we’ve made so far.

Copper Plumbing

We chose copper plumbing instead of plastic piping throughout the house.

For us, this was about durability, longevity, and reducing the amount of plastic in our water-delivery system.

Copper has been used in plumbing for generations, and when paired with properly treated water, it can be an incredibly long-lasting material.

Because we’re on a well, we’re also paying close attention to our water chemistry and filtration so the system is appropriate for copper.

Whole-House Reverse Osmosis + Remineralized Drinking Water

Water quality was one of our biggest priorities from the beginning.

We’re installing a whole-house reverse osmosis system so the water used throughout the home is filtered before it ever reaches our sinks, showers, and appliances.

Because reverse osmosis also removes naturally occurring minerals, we’re planning to remineralize the water we actually drink at our dedicated InSinkErator faucet.

That gives us the combination we wanted:

• highly filtered water throughout the house

• remineralized drinking water at the kitchen sink

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We’re on a private well, so our final filtration setup will also depend on the results of our water testing.

Havelock Wool Insulation

Instead of conventional insulation, we chose Havelock Wool.

It’s made from sheep wool and was one of those building materials I immediately loved once I started researching it.

Wool naturally helps manage moisture, and Havelock also emphasizes the material’s ability to absorb certain indoor air pollutants.

For me, I also just liked the idea of using a more natural material inside the walls of our home where possible.

Our Electrical Meter Is Away From the House

Our electrical meter is located on a pedestal approximately 30 feet away from the house rather than directly against an exterior wall.

Wired Ethernet Throughout the House

We’re also wiring Ethernet throughout the home.

That means TVs, computers, and other stationary devices can connect directly instead of everything relying on Wi-Fi.

There are practical benefits too — wired internet tends to be fast and stable — but we also liked having the ability to reduce unnecessary wireless use in parts of the home.

Tile Flooring

We chose tile for the main flooring throughout our home.

I originally loved it for the look and durability, but there were also practical reasons it made sense for our healthy-home goals.

Tile:

• is easy to clean

• doesn’t trap dust the way carpet can

• doesn’t hold odors

• is extremely durable

• can last for decades

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We’re also being thoughtful about the installation products used with it, because flooring is more than just the visible surface.

Electric Appliances

We chose electric appliances throughout the home instead of gas.

One of the reasons was indoor air quality.

Gas appliances create combustion inside the home, which can produce pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide.

Using electric appliances avoids that indoor combustion altogether.

For us, it was a simple decision that aligned with the way we wanted to approach the house.

Healthy Home, Not Perfect Home

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned throughout this process is that building a healthier home does not mean making every single decision perfectly.

Budget matters.

Availability matters.

Real life matters.

I’m simply trying to prioritize the things that feel meaningful to us and make thoughtful choices where we can.

Some decisions are about indoor air quality.

Some are about reducing plastic.

Some are about water.

And some are simply personal preferences that make us feel better about the home we’re creating.

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s building a home that supports the way we want our family to live.

And as we continue the build, I’ll keep sharing the healthy-home choices we make — including what we choose, what we skip, and what we decide is actually worth the investment. 🤎