Eco-Friendly Building Materials That Benefit Your Home’s IAQ

Atlantic Refrigeration • June 23, 2025

The materials you use to construct or remodel your house can significantly impact your indoor air quality. Discover the environmentally friendly materials you can use to naturally protect and improve your home’s IAQ.

Bamboo

Bamboo is growing in popularity as a home construction and remodeling material. As an affordable and renewable resource, it releases oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide. It also helps regulate humidity and filters toxins from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your home’s air.

Cork

Cork is another building material that is gaining popularity among homebuilders and homeowners. It emits minimal VOCs and resists mold, mildew and dust.


It also acts as a natural insulator, helping to keep heat, cold and moisture out of your home. As a biodegradable and sustainable material, it is a viable choice for furniture, wall panels and flooring.

Green or Living Roofs

Green roofs, also called living roofs, help improve homes’ indoor air quality. They consist of multiple layers of living vegetation and soil. Green roofs act as a waterproof membrane between them and the houses they are installed on while filtering out pollutants.


Green roofs also help regulate indoor temperatures and naturally produce oxygen. They are ideal for controlling indoor humidity levels and preventing fungal growth.

Plant-Based Polyurethane Foam

Plant-based polyurethane foam is another low-cost option you have to enhance your home’s indoor air quality. Unlike conventional polyurethane foam, which contains petroleum, this choice releases minimal chemical emissions. It consists of vegetable oil-based curing agents and bio-derived materials like lignin, making it safer for your home’s indoor air.

Straw

Straw likewise remains a popular option among eco-conscious homeowners who want to safeguard their homes’ IAQ. As a building material, straw acts as a reliable insulator. It is also inexpensive and resistant to fire.


In terms of how it protects your indoor air quality, straw naturally absorbs carbon. As a building material option for floors, ceilings and other structures, it is durable and breathable. It also helps lower indoor humidity levels.

Hempcrete

Hempcrete is gaining traction as an affordable and safe homebuilding material. Made of hemp hurds (the woody part of a hemp plant), lime and water, this material is breathable and vapor-permeable.


It helps keep the air inside your house dry by controlling humidity. It also absorbs carbon dioxide, contains no VOCs and is naturally resistant to pests and fire.

Mycelium

Another eco-friendly option you have for new home construction or remodeling is mycelium. The root-like structure of fungi, mycelium is akin to a HEPA filter and naturally breaks down and absorbs indoor pollutants. It also reduces indoor humidity, emits minimal VOCs and is biodegradable.


Environmentally friendly materials help keep the air inside your house in Delray Beach, FL safe and clean. Contact Atlantic Refrigeration to learn more about improving your indoor air quality.

Recent Posts

By Atlantic Refrigeration November 13, 2025
Atlantic Refrigeration provides expert commercial refrigeration repair services in West Palm Beach, FL. Fast response times for restaurant and business cooling needs.
By Atlantic Refrigeration October 20, 2025
In some cases, having a new heating system installed can reduce your heating and cooling expenses by 20% to 50% yearly. Expect impressive savings if you upgrade to a high-efficiency model or a heat pump. Modern heating equipment uses less energy to operate. You may even qualify for tax incentives or rebates.
By Atlantic Refrigeration October 6, 2025
When summertime temperatures creep into the mid-to-upper 90s, you need an air conditioner that can keep your home cool and comfortable. When you notice decreased airflow coming from your vents, it’s safe to assume that something is wrong. While some airflow problems are minor, others point to major issues with your system. Keep reading to learn more.
By Atlantic Refrigeration September 27, 2025
We rely on our HVAC systems to keep homes and businesses comfortable year-round. In the fall, temperatures tend to fluctuate throughout the day, and you might find yourself constantly running to and from the thermostat. Switching too frequently from heat to air conditioning wastes money and energy, but implementing these smart adjustments can help you stay comfortable.
By Atlantic Refrigeration September 8, 2025
When an air conditioner doesn’t blow cool air, you’re forced to suffer through stuffy rooms, heat and the headache of finding out what’s wrong. Luckily, there are some common repairs that a technician can make that often resolve the issue. If your AC isn’t working properly and is blowing hot air, here are some potential causes and solutions.
By Atlantic Refrigeration August 18, 2025
Furnaces have come a long way from those behemoths full of roaring fires that needed to be fed shovelfuls of coal. Now, they are almost sleek, quiet and amazingly energy efficient. Still, some myths about furnaces persist. Which ones are true, and which ones are not?
By Atlantic Refrigeration July 21, 2025
In general, most furnaces and heat pumps will last 15 to 20 years. Some systems may hang on a little while longer if they’re well taken care of, while others may call it quits much sooner if they’ve been neglected or overburdened. Age alone isn’t always the whole story, however. You might have a 10-year-old system that has been maintained regularly, and it will likely run better than 5-year-old HVAC equipment that has been ignored.
By Atlantic Refrigeration July 7, 2025
The reliability and lifespan of your furnace depend on how well you take care of it. However, as a homeowner, you might not know for sure what steps to take to maintain it. Here are some of the best ways to ensure your furnace lasts for as long as possible.
By Atlantic Refrigeration August 4, 2020
Heat and humidity make your air conditioner work overtime. In addition to cooling your home, your air conditioner is key to keeping the humidity in your home under control. When the heat is above 90°F, and the humidity matches, the strain on your system is grueling. That’s why it’s crucial to have regular maintenance. It can catch minor issues and keep them from turning into major problems.