Healthy Home Glossary

Short, plain-language definitions of the terms used across the Mr Hemp House site and the broader healthy home space.

GaiaCrete

A hemp-based healthy building material concept by Mr Hemp House for non-toxic, breathable, healthier construction and retrofit applications.

Hempcrete

A bio-based wall material made from hemp hurd, a lime-based binder, and water, used as a breathable, low-toxicity infill in healthier homes.

Hemp wool

Batt-style insulation made from hemp fibers, used as a lower-toxicity alternative to fiberglass or spray foam in walls and attics.

Healthy home

A home designed, built, or retrofitted to minimize occupant exposure to toxins, mold, moisture issues, and indoor air pollutants.

Home Health Score

A scoring concept that helps homeowners understand potential issues across indoor air, moisture, materials, toxins, mold risk, water quality, and retrofit opportunities.

Home health assessment

A structured review of a home's indoor air, materials, moisture, and related risks — available as a free digital assessment or a paid professional evaluation.

Indoor air quality (IAQ)

The condition of the air inside a building, shaped by ventilation, off-gassing materials, moisture, combustion sources, and outdoor pollutants.

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds — carbon-based chemicals that off-gas from paints, finishes, adhesives, and many building products, contributing to indoor air pollution.

Off-gassing

The release of chemicals from materials into the air over time, especially common with new furniture, paints, and synthetic building products.

Mold risk

The likelihood that mold will grow in a building, driven by moisture, lack of ventilation, leaks, and certain materials and assemblies.

EMF

Electromagnetic fields generated by electrical wiring, devices, and wireless systems; some homeowners choose to reduce exposure as part of a healthier home.

ERV

Energy Recovery Ventilator — a mechanical ventilation device that exchanges indoor and outdoor air while transferring some heat and moisture between the two streams.

HRV

Heat Recovery Ventilator — a mechanical ventilation device that exchanges indoor and outdoor air while transferring heat between the two streams.

Bio-based building material

A material made primarily from plant or other biological sources, such as hemp, wood fiber, straw, or cork.

Carbon-negative material

A material that, across its life cycle, is associated with removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits. Specific claims depend on product, study, and methodology.

Non-toxic retrofit

An upgrade of an existing home that reduces indoor toxin exposure and replaces problematic materials with healthier alternatives.

Healthy Home School

The Mr Hemp House education program (also referred to as MHH University) for homeowners, builders, contractors, and partners learning about healthier homes.

Healthy Homes for All

The Mr Hemp House movement to make healthier, non-toxic, better-performing homes more understandable, accessible, and scalable.