Melissa Wittig - The Smart Living Handbook

All correspondence to the publishers

The Smart Living Handbook

PO Box 4224

Briar Hill 3088

Victoria Australia

First published 2014

Melissa Wittig and Danielle King (content assigned)

With thanks to:

WordLaundry - Editor

Sharon Westin-Shaw Graphic Design - Book design

Canva.com - Illustrations

Nicola May Design - Graphic Design - Adverts (pages 332 and 334)

The right of Melissa Wittig to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts (Australia).

The right of Danielle King to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts (Australia).

The right of Belinda Thackeray to be identified as a professional contributor of content to the Low Allergy Sustainable Garden section has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Patents and Designs Acts (Australia).

This publication is copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the relevant author/s or contributor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal and civil claims for damages.

This publication is designed to provide accurate information in regard to the subject matter covered at the time of research. The nature of some content is subject to changes in the market place, local rules and regulations and individual circumstances. It is sold with the understanding that readers use the content for informational purposes only and not intended for the treatment or diagnosis of individual disease or issues. Please visit a qualified professional in the medical, local building, sustainability, housing or other specialty sector regarding your specific need before acting on information.

This publication does not endorse any of the findings and methodology in the scientific studies referenced. References are made to these studies to illustrate the varied findings associated with products, chemicals, pollutants and sustainability issues in Australian homes and the potential health concerns associated with them.

eISBN: 978-0-992-52161-5

Published by Healthy Interiors & Green Moves Australia

A Catalogue-in-Publication is available from the National Library of Australia.

Bulk orders available

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Dedicated to

a future where our children
can live a healthy, affordable, and sustainable life,
in surroundings free from health altering and environmentally damaging
pollution and substances.

For you:

Lane, Paige and Ryan

Thank you to our partners and families
who have missed many days and nights with
us for this book to be brought to life

Melissa and Danielle

Testimonial

Finally a book that recognises the relationship between energy efficiency and health in the home! Well written, in plain English, this is a great reference book for consumers, homeowners and industry professionals.

As an education tool it will help new home owners to make not only the right decisions, but also potentially save a considerable amount of money.

For those who already have been living in their home for a long time, this book is an eye opener and a trigger for action! - Jan Brandjes

Who is Jan Brandjes?

Jan Brandjes is an environmental building consultant with over 30 years of international experience in energy efficient building and indoor air quality issues. In Australia he developed a number of concept homes under the labels of Ecohome, The Sunbury Healthy House and The Economical Home. His main focus is now on training and educating industry and consumers of the benefits of sustainable and healthy buildings.

About the authors

Author - Melissa Wittig

Melissa Wittig is an accomplished health focused interior designer, author of the Healthy Home app, writer and mother. With a passion for healthy indoor environments it was the culmination of her professional property/design experience and role as a mum that ignited the development of her business, Healthy Interiors.

Melissa has a Diploma of Interior Design and is a licensed estate agent with a Grad Cert in Human Resource Management. She has combined her property, design and logistics skills to specialise in educating consumers about designing and creating healthy homes.

Melissa has shared her knowledge on television and radio and has articles published in various mediums internationally. Speaking engagements have included the International Industry Seminar Series for Decoration & Design/International Furniture Fair in Sydney, Australia and state-based exhibitions. The Healthy Home app written by Melissa was a finalist in the 2013 Australian Mobile Awards and has been featured in Australias leading sustainable magazines.

www.healthyinteriors.com.au

What made you choose to work in the sustainable living sector?

Having worked in the property sector followed by the design sector, I recognised that in many areas of both industries (professional and individual) consumers are making decisions that create a lasting legacy for buildings, occupants and communities. At the same time as recognising a professional need for sustainable principles, I was faced with personal health challenges within my family that were linked with environmental causes or triggers.

As a result of research and identifying a documented link between health and the home environment, as a mother and professional I felt compelled to explore a healthy, sustainable approach to design and interiors.

Melissas story

When I was studying in the field of property and human resources as a young adult, a career in sustainability and healthy interiors was not on my radar. After working in the property sector and further studies in interior design, it was parenthood 14 years ago that started a deep interest in the way we lived and the connection between the health of our family and our home environment. Research over many years along with personal and professional experiences has culminated into a career that has reinforced my belief that everything happens for a reason.

My health-focused interior design career is what I like to think of as my silver lining to years of health challenges within our family. These challenges have inspired my research over the years - findings of which have helped create a healthy and sustainable design ethos in my work.

An interest in issues associated with healthy homes is something that runs deep and personal. As a young woman I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which at the time was largely unspoken about with very little information available. Some research suggests links to environmental pollutants, such as outlined in the Endocrine Societys statement of 2009. As a consequence of PCOS, I struggled with pregnancies, a miscarriage, and when finally blessed with children we were challenged with their skin issues, allergies and recurring respiratory problems.

My journey of discovery into products, materials and finishes in our home began while I was reading the label of a major brand baby shampoo bottle as my daughter bathed. I was shocked by what I found. The realisation that harmful ingredients were present in products that we had trusted opened a floodgate of questions about all our household products. These led to further questions, and the discovery of a disturbing amount of documentation from authorities that linked chemicals used in the home with health concerns. Material safety data sheets and product labels became essential reading. After investigating the consumables we were using in our home, I moved on to explore materials and finishes we had used to renovate our home with, before we had children.