Yes a 'green home' can make you sick! Research published in 2010 shows that 'green homes' have significantly higher concentrations of formaldehyde than traditional homes built at the same time.
The reason is 'green homes' require less energy use. This requires more insulation and less natural ventilation. Less ventilation allows the indoor air pollutants to concentrate more.
A second factor is 'green homes' encourage reduced resource usage. This typically encourages the use of manufactured wood products. Unfortunately, manufactured wood products off gas more pollutants than does real wood.
You can read the published report at
www.aihasynergist-digital.org/aihasynergist/201002?pg=32
Homes that conform to the Energy Star program could in increase household energy costs and even make you sick if they are not constructed properly, according to an HVAC industry expert.
SmartPlanet reader 
Todd Witt sent me a thoughtful response to my article “Making your home ‘greener’ could raise its value” with a litany of reasons why today’s “green” homes may not be so green after all. I feel that it is worth sharing with you - even if I’m channeling Bob Villa tonight.
Keep in mind that Witt is president of Synergy Airflow and Ventilation, a company that designs and tests HVAC systems in Alabama.
Those reasons include oversized HVAC systems, moisture issues, indoor air quality issues, high radon concentrations, and premature HVAC compressor and fan motor failure, according to Witt.
Improperly sized HVAC units raise energy costs and can contribute to comfort and moisture issues in a home, Witt wrote in an e-mail. These issues can slip past local building inspectors that are not enforcing building code requirements with the approved load calculation methods, he explained.
Tightly sealing an improperly designed system results in other problems such as reduced airflow, Witt noted. “Reduced airflow means the proper amount of heating and cooling does not get delivered which creates comfort issues, higher energy costs, and premature compressor and motor failure.”
Undersized components (such as returns) in HVAC systems returns can also contribute to poorer utilization of energy to heat or cool homes. Witt explained how these construction errors could pressurize a bedroom, forcing air out of the home or creating moisture issues in wall cavities.
That causes a cascade of issues throughout the home, which may explain why the TV program “Ghost Hunters” is so popular.
“At the same time, this depressurizes the main body of the home causing it to pull in unconditioned air from unintended leaks in the exterior envelope. Symptoms include doors that close on their own and the smell of your fireplace when the HVAC system comes on,” Witt explained.
Health problems can arise from a lack of fresh air ventilation in homes that are super insulated or super air-sealed, Witt explained. Tight homes may cause a “sick building syndrome” where contaminants amass to pollute indoor air.
“The truth is that many of those at fault don’t know any better and are actually trying to do the right thing. However, it’s not very comforting to the customer when we have to report that their home has major issues that will cost thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars to repair,” said Witt.
An upcoming revision (version 3) to the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines requires third party verification of HVAC systems. However, the new rules could make existing Energy Star homes obsolete, Witt noted.
“Many of the builders that advertise the advantages of the Energy Star designation are already complaining and demanding postponement of the new guidelines,” Witt said.
Witt earns his living by providing said verifications, but he has nonetheless written some vendor neutral tips for homebuyers. Those include:
• An improperly sized and installed high efficiency unit is not efficient. Witt recommends that you demand documentation of your home’s Manual J Load Calculation and Manual D duct design. “Call your local building department and ask them why the International Residential Code requirements for Manual J and Manual D are not being enforced.”
• Demanding fresh air ventilation and returns/jumper ducts in every bedroom.
• Demanding a static pressure test, interior pressure testing, and air balancing.
• Having the depth and density of your attic insulation inspected, and having attic rulers installed throughout your attic.
• Eliminating traditionally vented crawlspaces and replace them with closed crawlspace construction.
Have any of you experienced these defects in your new home?
