We are constantly told that we should “go outside, get some fresh air, it’s good for you!” Yet according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends about 90% of their life indoors, and let’s face it – that’s not going to change. So, we must make our indoor environments more conducive to improving and maintaining our physical, mental and financial health. We call this concept “Wellness Real Estate,” and it combines the traditional home building disciplines like architecture and design with cutting edge advancements in technology and science.
How Times Have Changed
Even in an age where incredible advancements in medical treatments and technologies can cure cancers that were once automatic death sentences and create replacement heart valves with 3D printers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the average American lifespan is growing shorter.
A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reveals nearly half (approximately 45%, or 133 million) of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity which can lead to hospitalization, long-term disability, reduced quality of life, and death.
Just as damaging as these physical health issues are factors that contribute to mental health problems. A new study published in the BMJ journal reports more people are battling issues ranging from addiction to high stress and anxiety levels and depression, which can manifest into physical ailments.
Wellness Real Estate
That’s society’s diagnosis, and our collective condition is serious. The good news is that it’s possible to improve and maintain good physical, mental and financial health by preventive measures. Along with the advice you’ve likely heard repeatedly about making smarter lifestyle choices such as scheduling regular doctor visits, getting more exercise and proper nutrition, your house can play a key role. DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence was designed with this in mind. The DARWIN platform monitors, calibrates and activates indoor home environments, responding to changing conditions to help improve human health, well-being and performance.
Just as you try to put better foods into your body, you should put your body into an environment that is conducive to promoting your health and well-being. And it appears more people are coming to that realization.
In support of the BUILDER KB Home ProjeKt, Hanley Wood commissioned The Farnsworth Group to survey people who either recently purchased a new home or are actively shopping for one. 75% of respondents consider housing as essential or extremely important in contributing to their good health, and two-thirds believe the right housing environment could cut their annual medical costs by as much as 40 percent.
Your home should serve as the foundation for improving and maintaining your physical, emotional and even financial health. Wellness Real Estate touches every aspect of building or renovating a home, including architecture, exterior and interior design, construction, lighting and landscaping. As a customizable solution, DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence addresses four key areas: air quality, water quality, lighting and comfort.
For example, energy efficient appliances, water efficient fixtures, antimicrobial countertops and kitchen range hoods that reduce cooking effluent are all critical elements builders should incorporate into the modern kitchen.
Improving air and water quality throughout the entire home is a priority, as is maintaining a regular sleep schedule. Not hitting the magic seven-to-eight hour mark can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease, lead to weight gain, obesity and diabetes, weaken your immunity system and escalate feelings of depression. Your home’s lighting systems play a significant role here.
Historically a lighting designer has focused on how much light is required for ambient or task lighting. Technology advancements now enable the designer to mimic outdoor environments by incorporating dynamic lighting systems, even including showers and dressing mirrors lighting that replicate bright morning sunshine to help energize you for the day ahead, or dusk to signal your body it’s time to wind down for the night.
This cutting-edge technology can also be made available for everyone. It is the responsibility of the home building industry to ensure that Wellness Real Estate solutions are available to people across generations and price points, from first-time home buyers to empty nesters.
Attainability
During each decade of our lives, we prepare for the ones that follow. Delos’ research has found:
- Millennials want to live in a place that provides access to people their own age, a short commute to work, a variety of entertainment, and other shared activities.
- Generation X desires space for their children, they want access to childcare, sustainable employment with minimal transportation and the ability to spend time with friends.
- Baby Boomers want to downsize, be part of a community and incorporate children in their lives. What they do not want is feeling like they’re being forced to move out of their homes and neighborhoods and into retirement communities.
This represents a fundamental shift in how people see the roles their homes play in their lives over the short and long term. A house is not just as a basic commodity, but a valuable asset for promoting a healthier, happier life.
Health and well-being in the built environment needs to be positioned as a right, not a privilege.
To learn more about health and wellness in the home, register to take tour of the BUILDER KB Home ProjeKt or learn more now at www.builderonline.com/kbhomeprojekt.
