The beginning of the new year is often a good time to think about your health and wellbeing. Or perhaps you might consider it a time to get to work, ticking off some of those home improvements that you’ve been meaning to complete around the house! But have you ever considered just how much your surroundings can contribute to your health too?
Well, when you use limestone, such as Lime Render or Lime Mortar for your home improvements, you can kill two birds with one stone! Limestone is not only a positive choice when taking your health into consideration, but can be low impact and beneficial for the environment too. Let’s take a little look at the green benefits of using lime for the planet – and for you too.
Why is using limestone good for me?
Limestone has an ability to absorb moisture from the environment; this actively contributes to a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment for you thanks to it hindering the growth of fungi and bacteria. This in turn prevents the development of mould and mildew, which if excessive could actually lead to health concerns – problems such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even skin conditions can progress due to damp and mould. You can read more about the negative impact of damp in our previous blog post.
Limestone’s amazing moisture-absorbing properties can even help maintain humidity levels in your house, helping to reduce odours and on the whole help contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable indoor climate. High humidity levels in indoor environments can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions by allowing dust mites and other allergens to thrive, so by absorbing excess moisture, limestone can help limit the proliferation of allergens.
Not only this, but it is proven that living in cold and damp conditions comes with its own threats to your mental health too. Whether it be persistent worries about financial constraints, or anxiety about the aforementioned potential health repercussions, all of these factors can total up to a home life that’s full of stressors. So ticking those projects off your to-do list can help your physical and mental wellbeing alike – who knew there was so much that lime could achieve?
Why can using limestone be good for the environment too?
Limestone has an abundance of qualities that make it the ideal choice for people that are conscious of their project’s impact on the environment too. It’s one of the most abundant materials on earth, meaning its widespread availability helps to reduce the need for extensive transportation – straight away, this lowers carbon emissions associated with logistics.
Another quality that makes it the best material of choice is its unique ability to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Limestone has a natural affinity for CO2 and can chemically bind with it through a process called carbonation – this ensures that captured CO2 remains locked away, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere.
Its thermal properties also make it an excellent material for energy-efficient construction; it has high thermal mass, which helps regulate indoor temperatures and reduce the need for heating and cooling, consequently lowering energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
So there you have it, lime can be a great solution for maintaining your health, and for the environment as well. Consider using lime in your next project for the sake of your carbon footprint, your respiratory health – and for your mental wellbeing too!