We spend as much as 90% of our days indoors—and more than half of that is spent inside our homes. Surprisingly, the air inside even the cleanest home can be as much as ten times more polluted than the air outside. Dust, pollen, mold, mildew, radon, formaldehyde, even volatile chemicals found in household cleaners can cause unhealthy indoor air. Some pollutants are tracked into the home or enter it through joints, cracks or unsealed openings around windows, doors and vents. Others originate inside, caused by high humidity, new furniture or carpet or a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
Smart home design boosts indoor air quality (IAQ), ensuring healthy air at all times, in all areas of the home. River Vine’s advanced green building design and state-of-the-art systems mitigate the primary cause of IAQ problems, limiting human exposure to harmful airborne contaminants and ensuring the maximum comfort and safety of anyone who enters the home.
No- and Low-VOC Materials
Many building materials contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are released into the air, causing respiratory, skin, and eye irritation, as well as headaches, nausea and dizziness. To prevent dangerous emissions, River Vine uses the cleanest, greenest building materials, eliminating individual sources of pollution at the source. Only zero-VOC paints, stains and sealants will be used in River Vine and all furniture, flooring, fixtures and fabrics will be the lowest toxicity products available.
Airtight Building Envelope
One of the most effective ways to improve indoor air quality is to keep pollutants outside. River Vine is pressurized, with an airtight building envelope that stops unconditioned air from entering the home at any point. Weatherproof wrap creates a protective shield around the exterior walls, windows, doors, vents and roof, with an insulated 6” concrete slab preventing the infiltration of harmful vapors from below.
Radon Barrier
A crawlspace can serve as an incubator for major allergens like mold and mildew, as well as cancer-causing gases like radon. A durable, high-strength polyethylene membrane acts as a radon barrier, covering the floor of River Vine’s crawlspace to seal out hazardous vapors. The radon barrier also protects River Vine against mold and other microorganisms that can grow in damp soil and pass upward into the house. Upon completion, the crawl space will be conditioned to remove moisture and humidity—conditions that can pose a serious risk to human health and the building’s structural integrity.
Dual-Filtration Ventilation
River Vine’s mechanical and natural ventilation system will remove or dilute airborne pollutants from both indoor and outdoor sources. To ensure fresh, filtered air at all times, the ventilation system will cycle interior pollutants out of the home and condition the air brought inside. Outside air will be run through an activated carbon air filter, then moved through air handlers and a whole house air cleaner for dual filtration before distribution. Natural convection will maintain a consistent temperature, eliminating the need to open windows and allow dust, pollen and other contaminants to migrate inside.
Automated Controls
River Vine’s customized home automation system uses the latest technology to manage and control air quality, auto-detecting and correcting problems for greater occupant safety and health. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity sensors continuously monitor the air in every room, automatically activating and adjusting ventilation to optimize IAQ levels throughout the home. Programmable controls keep interior temperatures within a target range and maintain relative humidity between 30%-50%—a comfortable level that prevents the growth of mildew and mold.
As an added benefit, River Vine’s tight construction, natural convection and automated ventilation help reduce energy usage, economically circulating and cleansing air as needed—instead of continuously—to keep the home safe and comfortable for everyone inside.