A Healthy House with Paula Baker-Laporte
A Healthy House » Listen Now
Date: June 20, 2016
Episode Description
“Once I learned the facts, I could never again allow certain products techniques, or equipment to be used in projects with which I became involved.”-Paula Baker-Laporte
With over 88 000 chemicals in our environment that are unregulated, this is an important topic for anyone. Our homes are our castles, and for those who are chronically ill, our safe havens. But what happens when our safe place is contributing to or causing our illness? Paula Baker-Laporte shares the information in her book “Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide For Architects, Builders & Homeowners.” Whether you are building a home or just a home owner wanting to buy a new couch, this show is informative of the dangers of the toxins associated with these decisions, and how to make more informed, healthy choices for your home, your family and of course, yourself.
Dr. Risk’s Thoughts
This was an important topic for me. It took years to realized that Multiple Chemical Sensitivities were contributing to my Chronic Lyme Disease and the debilitating illness that I was experiencing. After years of illness, my symptoms peaked three months after moving my practice to a clinic that was in a brand new building. The off gassing of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) was too much for me and I became bed ridden. I am still plagued with these sensitivities, although they are no longer as severe. I limit my exposure, although I cannot keep my environment 100% clear of these chemicals. They are everywhere.
Guest Information
Paula Baker-Laporte FAIA, BBEC
Paula Baker-Laporte FAIA, BBEC was graduated from the University of Toronto, School of Architecture in 1978 and from The International Institute of Building Biology and Ecology in 1995. In 2007, she was honored with investiture into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. Her award-winning architectural practice is based in Ashland Oregon. Since 1992, Paula has dedicated her practice to the precepts of environmentally sound and health enhancing architecture. She has developed a unique specialty in alternative construction for health and in addition to her architectural design practice she serves as a consultant on the health aspects of building throughout North America and beyond.
Paula has lectured, taught, and published extensively on the topic of healthy and ecological design. She is a longtime member of the teaching faculty for the International Institute of Building Biology and Ecology where she is active in writing new coursework. She is a contributing author to several books and periodicals and is the primary author of Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 1st,-3rd edition, New Society Publishers 1998- 2008 and co-author with husband Robert Laporte, of EcoNest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries of Clay, Straw and Timber, Gibbs Smith, 2005 and their new book “The EcoNest Home: Designing and Building a Light Straw Clay House, New Society 2015.
