A Focus on Wellness in New Home Building
As people spend a significant portion of their lives indoors, the environment at home has a profound impact on health and well-being. While homeowners often focus on aesthetics and functionality, factors such as indoor air quality and building material selection are equally crucial.
“Some people complain about catching viruses easily, having colds or flu, but do we really talk about the well-being from the perspective of a home?” Jaswal asked. “A well-built home can significantly affect our well-being.”
Andrew’s Journey into Wellness Real Estate
Born in Canada to Italian immigrant parents, Guido pursued a business degree at York University. His passion for wellness real estate emerged about seven or eight years ago when he sought to understand how homes could be built to promote better health for their occupants.
Determined to make a difference, Guido became a licensed home builder in Ontario, completing all five courses under Tarion, including the complex Ontario Building Code course. He also trained at the Building Biology Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico — a program rooted in a movement that began in Germany in the 1960s to address health issues related to new post-World War II homes.
“The Building Biology movement is all about understanding what happens to the occupants once you put a building on a piece of dirt,” Guido explained. “How can we build in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment and also helps the person inside the house?”
Launching ERTH360 and Partnership with Empire Communities
Andrew founded ERTH360, a company dedicated to wellness real estate. His journey eventually led him back to Empire Communities, where he previously held an executive position. Impressed by his work, Empire Communities — one of North America’s largest privately held homebuilders — partnered with Andrew to build the first ERTH360 home during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when health and wellness were more critical than ever.
“That caused me to get even closer with Empire, and they eventually ended up buying my company,” Guido said. “I now lead not only innovation and sustainability for Empire, but we also have a separate business unit for ERTH360.”
The Empire x ERTH360 Discovery Home
The collaboration resulted in the Empire x ERTH360 Discovery Home, located in the Avalon community in Caledonia, Ontario. This concept home incorporates over 50 changes focused on air, water, light, and sound to enhance occupant wellness.
“Out of that, the ERTH360 Air concept was born,” Guido said.
Introducing ERTH360 Air at Empire Riverland
Empire Communities has integrated the ERTH360 Air solution into all 140 homes at its Empire Riverland development in Breslau, part of the Kitchener-Waterloo area. This solution introduces six key enhancements in an accessible way that drastically improve indoor air quality.
“Empire has decided that ERTH360 Air will now be part of it as a bonus feature for the budding community at Riverland,” Guido explained.
Focus on Indoor Air Quality
The ERTH360 Air concept is laser-focused on improving indoor air quality— the air people breathe 20,000 times a day, or up to 60,000 times for infants. Guido sought to meet the stringent ASHRAE Standard 241, the toughest test for indoor air quality, introduced by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
“I’m happy to report that we hired the group that was licensed to test it,” Guido said. They tested both the Empire x ERTH360 Discovery Home and one of the homes equipped with ERTH360 Air at Empire Avalon in Caledonia. “Both homes passed. Passing ASHRAE Standard 241 means that if someone has an infectious disease or is sick, and they isolate in one of the rooms in your house that has this package, there’s a 0.01% probability that anybody else in the house will get sick.”
Innovations Implemented
To achieve this, ERTH360 Air features several key innovations, including:
- Enhanced Ventilation Systems: The homes are equipped with Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) that are upsized beyond building code requirements. These systems bring in fresh air and help control humidity, maintaining levels between 40% and 60% — the optimal range to reduce the activity of viruses and bacteria.
- HEPA Filtration Systems: A three-stage High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system traps 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns, significantly reducing airborne contaminants.
- Upgraded Furnace Filters: The standard one-inch filters are replaced with dual 5” pleated MERV 13 filters, providing an additional layer of air purification.
Addressing Building Materials and Water Quality
While the ERTH360 Air package primarily focuses on air quality, Guido acknowledged the importance of building materials and water quality in overall wellness. By selecting materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the homes reduce off-gassing and improve indoor air quality.
“We try as much as possible to, where there’s a choice, buy materials that have fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs),” Guido stated.
In terms of water quality, the Empire x ERTH360 Discovery Home features an affordable water filtration system that effectively purifies tap water without the need for expensive equipment.
Wellness Real Estate: A Growing Movement
Guido said that wellness real estate is a growing global trend, driven by increased awareness of health and environmental issues. But he is focused on ensuring those solutions are accessible to people whatever their budget.
“Both of our markets in North America have been affected by the interest rates. Everybody is hurting from this side,” he said. “I could do so many things if money was not an object, but it’s not the case. So, I’m using my expertise to pick the things that you can do that help.”
Empowering Homeowners
Guido emphasized that homeowners can take simple steps to improve their living environment, even in existing homes. For instance, replacing furnace filters with higher-rated MERV filters and ensuring proper ventilation can make a significant difference.
“Change your filters. Even in your existing house, even if it’s a one-inch filter, immediately go look at it,” he advised. “Any manufacturer that’s proud of what they’re doing will want you to know they built a good filter. Look for MERV 11 or higher.”
Conclusion
The interview concluded with Guido expressing his commitment to bringing wellness-focused homes to more people and inviting prospective homeowners to explore the Empire Riverland community.
“I hope you get an opportunity to take a look at the Empire Riverland project,” he said. “You’ll get a chance, if you go to the sales centre, to see our materials on this.”
Yudhvir Jaswal commended Guido and Empire Communities for their pioneering work in wellness real estate.
“I can sense the energy that now you want to give back to the community,” Jaswal said. “There are very few people who are passionate about what they do and want to give back to the community. I see that in you. Compliments to you.”
To learn more, visit ERTH360.com.