Your home should be a haven. Somewhere you look forward to returning to time and time again because it provides sanctuary against the elements. And yet for many of us, our houses are part of the problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – which estimates that the typical American spends 93 percent of their time indoors – in-home quality is actually worse than it is outside, as reported in a recent New York Times article. Here’s how a Passive House bucks this trend and facilitates better wellbeing. 

Combating Allergies and Air Quality Issues

In most traditional houses, pollutants, allergens, dust, and other irritants flow in from the outside. The air control layer in a Passive House filters these out, utilizing an ERV to supply continuous fresh air. This was a key decision point to physicians Morgen and Sush when they chose Kala to build their high-performance home in Overland Park, Kansas.

“We wanted a house that was healthy because working in the medical profession, we know that environmental and home exposures are a massive player in wellbeing,” Sush said. “I have prescription medication that I take for asthma and allergies. It was probably something to do with the rental house we were living in, where the air quality was substantially worse. Now, I can go for a period of time without the medications and still be okay. I think that's somewhat related to the way the house is built and the air filtration that's in it.”

In their previous houses, the homeowners felt that the poorly built structure could be contributing to their family’s health challenges. This has changed for the better since they moved into their new Kala home. 



“I can definitely tell a difference – when I come inside, I breathe easier,” Morgen said. “When we were moving, every time we went back to our previous house, I would sneeze uncontrollably and feel terrible. And then we'd come back here, and I’d be fine. Our kids are off their allergy meds too.”

Sleeping Soundly and Feeling Better

The gentle circulation of fresh, clean air in PoojaNic’s Beacon Hill Passive House (the first of its kind in the entire state of Missouri) offers a refuge from the hustle and bustle of Kansas City around the clock. The ERV has taken the place of a typical air conditioner and is both quieter, more efficient, and better at filtering out particles that compromise health. 

“I’m sleeping better, which is important for mental and physical health and very valuable to me,” Pooja said. “Being in the healthcare field, I’ve seen diseases that can occur because of air pollution, and it can cause quality of life issues. So when you have the option to do something that’s going to be healthier, it makes sense to do that. Our son is as healthy as he can be in the environment that we control.”

When it comes to his and Pooja’s health, Nic realizes that they aren’t just trying to be healthier today or tomorrow but over the long haul. He believes that building a Passive House with Kala was not only a sound fiscal decision, but also a wise investment in his family’s health. “The first day you skip brushing your teeth, it's not like they’re going to start rotting, but you’ve got to have consistent habits and make good decisions,” Nic said. “This home allows us to do that without thinking too much about it.”