Bridging the Gap Between Health & Home:

From the World's Leading Expert in Healthy Building Materials, Andrew Pace Joins Board of Change the Air Foundation

Andy Pace, Founder of The Green Design Center

Exposing the Silent Threats Lurking in Your Home

For those who do not know my story, my name is Andy Pace, and I started the first healthy home material supply company in North America over 30 years ago as a response to people getting violently ill due to everyday building materials being used in and around their dwellings.

Water-based paints and coatings, to be exact were the villains. We all thought water-based paints were safe, only to find out that only a percentage of the liquid in the can is water while the rest is a whole host of toxic solvents that can off-gas for years after curing. We definitely learned this lesson the hard way when the dangers of off-gassing showed up unknowingly in the forms of irritated eyes, breathing difficulties, and nausea along with other more severe long-term effects.

From that point on, I made it my mission to search the world for healthier options of every kind of building material you can think of and I curated the best of the best. That paint story? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are literally tens of thousands of chemicals emitting from building materials and other household goods every single day. From flooring to cabinetry, to furniture and even countertops, it can all be problematic.

In addition to interior home building materials, I also kept myself involved with mainstream architecture and construction organizations with the hope of changing the industry from the inside. That part proved to be extremely difficult, as the establishment just didn’t want to, or feel it necessary to improve upon their antiquated methods. Building checklists that were created to emphasize green and eco-friendly design and construction were certainly effective for fostering energy-efficient and sustainable practices, but did very little to improve the health of the occupants.

Green Building Projections

For the last 5 years, I’ve had an active podcasting career, which has led to writing in some influential home publications like Healthy Home Media, as well as many more speaking engagements. I am pleased to see an increase in awareness in the wellness and healthy home market. According to a new study from SNS Insider, the green building material market is projected to achieve close to $929 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 12% from now through 2030.

Consumers and homeowners are making more thoughtful and educated decisions when it comes to wellness in the home.

In addition to health-conscious companies making healthier materials, organizations, and non-profits are stepping up to do their part to educate the masses. About a year ago, a new non-profit called Change the Air Foundation asked me to record a segment for an online summit they put together, which dealt specifically with the explosion of mold-related illnesses and how to prevent them in new construction. Not only was I happy to share my knowledge and experiences, but I found it to be an eye-opener to the correlation between chemical and mold exposure and the human occupants. This non-profit, quite honestly, is the very first I’ve found that takes these issues head-on.

While only being around for about a year, Change the Air is already funding research on toxic mold exposure and is involved in advocating for better laws, policies, and protections around unsafe indoor air quality due to mold and chemical emissions. Change the Air believes safe indoor air is a basic human right. This is not marketing and feel-good-ism to them. It’s life or death. And as the newest member of their board of directors, I cannot express enough how much our industry needs their help.

As we are putting together our resolutions for the new year, please consider reaching out to Change the Air with a commitment to donate at www.changetheairfoundation.org.

Small or large it will absolutely make a difference. Your generosity will help all of us in the unending quest to make our dwellings safe. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2024.

By, Andy Pace , Healthy Home Concierge

Founder of the Green Design Center and Host of Non-Toxic Environments Podcast

Andrew Pace is a Healthy Home Concierge and Founder of The Green Design Center, a leading resource for homeowners and contractors looking to source products that are healthy and green and receive expert consulting advice on designing and building healthy green homes. Andrew is the host of the weekly Non-Toxic Environments Podcast. He is a worldwide expert on green and healthy building products and services for customers and contractors from around the globe. As founder of the oldest healthy building supply company in the United States, Andrew has become one of the single most helpful and educational experts dealing with the day-to-day concerns of those individuals who suffer from allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities. Please follow along at @nontoxicenviornments and https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com.