Healthy Home Building: What It Is—and What It Isn’t

When planning a custom home, most people focus on layout, finishes, and style. But one crucial element often overlooked is how healthy the home will be to live in. Just because a home is energy-efficient or “green” doesn’t mean it’s healthy for the people living inside it.

In fact, some features used to meet LEED certification standards—which prioritize environmental sustainability—can introduce materials that may not be ideal for human health. So what exactly makes a home healthy? And how do you incorporate wellness into your homebuilding process?

Let’s take a look.

LEED vs. Healthy Home Building: What's the Difference?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification. It focuses on lowering a home’s impact on the environment—reducing energy use, conserving water, and improving overall sustainability.

However, a LEED-certified home can still use materials that off-gas chemicals or reduce indoor air quality.

For example:

• Recycled materials used to earn LEED points may still contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Tightly sealed homes for energy efficiency can trap indoor pollutants if not properly ventilated.

A healthy home, by contrast, puts human well-being and air quality at the center. The goal is to build a home that supports better breathing, cleaner indoor air, fewer allergens, and overall comfort.

Healthy Home Building Tips for Your Custom Home

Here are some expert-approved ways to build a healthier home, without compromising on style or function:

1. Use Low-VOC or Zero-VOC Paints

Paint can release VOCs into the air for weeks (or even months) after application. VOCs are linked to headaches, respiratory problems, and irritation. Serenity Homes uses a zero VOC wall paint in all of our homes.

Healtier Options: Opt for zero-VOC paints from reputable brands like Benjamin Moore’s Natura or Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint® with Air Purifying Technology. Just let us know if you'd like to use these air purifying products as they are slightly more costly.

2. Choose Natural Flooring Over Vinyl

While vinyl floor are the most widely used — and the most durable, many vinyl or engineered flooring options contain phthalates, glues, or formaldehyde. These are common indoor air pollutants. However, there are many options on the market that are GreenGuard Gold certified for better indoor air quality. Tip: Look for an SPC core instead of WPC and no Prop 65 warning.

Healthier Options:

• Solid hardwood flooring finished with non-toxic sealants

• Bamboo flooring - cork underlayment has higher off-gassing

• Tile or stone for moisture-prone areas

3. Select Wool or Natural Fiber Carpets

Synthetic carpets can trap allergens and off-gas harmful chemicals. Wool is a naturally hypoallergenic, flame-resistant, and biodegradable option. Some wool carpet are sprayed with an incecticide. There are options on the market without, but you will have the added maintenance of regularly vacuuming all areas.

Bonus: Wool also helps regulate indoor humidity and purify the air.

4. Install Mineral Wool or Formaldehyde-Free Insulation

Typical fiberglass insulation can contain formaldehyde, a known irritant. Some brands are better than others. Tip: Look for GreenGuard Gold certification — we have a GreenGuard Gold option for use.

Healthier Choice:

• Mineral wool insulation, made from natural rock or slag, Example, Rockwool

• Formaldehyde-free fiberglass

  
  

5. Improve Indoor Air Ventilation

In tight, energy-efficient homes, indoor air quality can suffer without proper ventilation.

Healthier Choice:

• HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) systems, we put an HRV in all of our homes

• Whole-house air purifiers

• Regular maintenance of HVAC filters

  
  

6. Avoid Toxic Adhesives and Sealants

Check labels on caulks, glues, and sealants—these can often be high in VOCs.

Tip: Use non-toxic, low-emission building materials certified by Greenguard or Green Seal.

Why Healthy Homes Matter

When you build with health in mind, you’re not just investing in a beautiful house—you’re creating a space that:

• Promotes better sleep

• Reduces respiratory issues

• Helps those with asthma or allergies

• Supports your family’s long-term well-being

Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Build Healthy

Incorporating health-conscious decisions into your custom home doesn’t have to mean giving up modern aesthetics or sustainability. In fact, you can often do both. While you may not be able to incorporate all of the above suggestions due to budget, you can certainly do a few! At Serenity Homes, we have access to a library of safer, non-toxic products and we can help families in the Des Moines metro build homes that are not just energy-efficient—but healthy to live in. Because your home should be a place that supports you from the inside out.