Re: [GBlist] Mold question

[David Seth Melchert <dmelchert@earthlink.net>]

Steve:

Indeed there is a message here to consider.

Environmental sensitivity does seem to be increasing. Have you seen the alarming
statistics on the rise of asthma? It is easy to deflect concerns over
environmental sensitivity by assigning it to choices of intolerance or weakness
of some kind. It always happens to "other" people. However once you yourself are
affected it is no longer "others"; it is very real, immediate and alarming. I
have been blessed with a resilient and healthy body. But I have worked with many
people who are not, and I assure you, they are not hypochondriacs. Why is this
happening and what do we do about it?

As John Salmen reports from Canada, remedying mistakes of the past is not simply
a matter of patching up a hole, nor of bickering over who's responsible. A
wholesale re-evaluation of design and its relationship to environment and the
human being is in order. I highly recommend starting with understanding Building
Science. Joe Lstiburek is an excellent source - www.buildingscience.com  He
states very clearly that in recent decades we have begun to make much higher
demands on our houses and the old simple ways of building will not suffice. We
must pay attention to complex issues of indoor air quality, movement of moisture
and air, repelling of water, etc. Otherwise we suddenly find ourselves attacked
by molds, toxins and decaying buildings. We builders (I am one) are unaccustomed
to the extent of intricate knowledge required to do what was once a simple task.
I think there is a long and slow learning curve ahead. I wish that every
building had not only an architect and engineer on the design team, but a
building scientist as well. It is a lot to master.

I would submit we not stop there, but ask questions such as, "What is health?
What do our bodies and souls need to thrive? Same for our families, communities
and nations." I think there is much fertile ground here that extends far beyond
molds and asthma.

This radio personality may be inflaming the situation. This is unfortunate. But
it is unwise to throw out the message with the etiquette of the messenger. No,
this situation is not under control. I think we are only now seeing the tip of
the iceberg.

Good thing we have the ability and power to learn, to understand, and perhaps
even have the wisdom to change.

Seth Melchert

Steven Shepard wrote:

> OK, I give.  For all you environmentally challenged bodies, minds and souls,
> as I per my reply to another:
>
> I truly hope that you have this situation under control and it is not a
> threatening issue.  I just marvel how environmentally sensitive humans have
> become and intolerant of their own surroundings and neighbors (human or
> not).  It just strikes me as simply incredible.  These organisms have
> certainly been here since the dawn of time.  It would appear that as we
> humans propagate ourselves further we reduce our ability to deal with them.
> There seems to be a message there.


______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________