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indoor air quality

indoor air quality

Part 3: Can Material Selection Reduce Hazards To Occupants?⁠

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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 29

In honor of National Food Day (which is tomorrow), we wanted to share some food-related wellness tips:⁠
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Did you know?⁠
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Poor nutrition remains a top contributor to the global burden of disease, accounting for more than one in every five deaths globally.⁠
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What's the solution? Healthy diets have the potential to nurture human health and prevent several diet-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.⁠
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Let's take this knowledge and make a conscious effort to eat mindfully. Strive to consume locally grown, nutritious food as fuel and energy for our bodies.🍎🥕🍉🥗🍽️

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 27

In today’s blog, we will be discussing wood products.⁠
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While we know that wood is a sustainable material, it is important to understand where our wood comes from to help us reduce the number of trees cut down. The first rule according to an article by EcoHome is choosing “local” wood. Not sure where to find local wood? Here are some options:⁠
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🍃Reclaimed Wood - Demolitions are a great opportunity to salvage wood. You can even find businesses that specialize in salvaging building materials.⁠
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🍃Shipping Pallets - We’ve all seen wood pallets at grocery stores or commercial buildings, well luckily most retailers are happy to get rid of them. ⁠
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🍃Local Shops - We recommend @woodyshardwoodflooring local to us in Kelowna, BC. Woody’s Hardwood Flooring truly is a leader in the “real wood” flooring business. Be sure to check them out for your next project!⁠
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Check out our blog more information: https://matthewsdesigngroup.ca/articles/part-4-can-material-selection-reduce-hazards-to-occupants/⁠
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matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 24

Happy Friday everyone!⁠
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Have you ever wondered how much time you may actually be spending indoors? According to research, the average person spends approximately 90% of their time indoors, that’s about 22 hours each day! Now think about those indoor spaces. Are they good for your well-being?⁠
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Lacking access to the outdoors can leave you feeling drained and tired. We want to mitigate these negative health impacts so that we can live healthier, well-balanced lives. Let's strive to decrease the amount of time we spend indoors as there are many associated benefits of the outdoors:⁠
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🍃Natural environments can boost your physical and mental energy by nearly 40 percent⁠
🍃Lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as improved mental recovery from stress and fatigue⁠
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Grab a friend or loved one and explore the outdoors for physical and mental well-being! ❤⁠
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#indoorairquality #indoorair #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 22

#DaylightHour 2022 is happening this June 22nd, from noon to 1pm.⁠
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Daylight is a natural source of energy. It grows plants and powers solar panels, while also providing numerous health benefits. Fitwel Certification System is sponsoring Building Energy Exchange's Daylight Hour Campaign in support of the inherent connection between sustainability and wellbeing. Utilizing daylight in our workspaces decreases our carbon emissions while improving our health.⁠
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For #DaylightHour 2022, you can sign up to turn off your lights for one hour (12-1pm local time), reflect on sustainability in your work and natural environments, and participate in the global social media campaign with the chance to win awards!

#daylighthour #daylight #lightingdesign #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #fitwel #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 20

In the previous blogs (Part 1 and Part 2), we discussed four hazardous materials that the International Living Future Institute recommends should be avoided when creating new spaces, as well as why these materials are considered harmful. In Part 2 we offered some alternative flooring choices that are better for people and the environment. ⁠
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So now that you have selected flooring that meets green building standards - what about adhesives? What is in Flooring Adhesives? Is your flooring still “green” if you install it with a less-than-green adhesive? Many flooring products, from linoleum to cork to bamboo to carpet tile, have proudly promoted their green credentials, while flooring adhesives have typically remained an afterthought left to the contractor. ⁠
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Check out our most recent blog to learn more about the best "green" standard flooring adhesives. Link is in our bio🤍

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 17

Diversity includes race, gender, socioeconomic background, physical⁠
ability, gender identity, and other factors. Yet in industrialized countries, 50-70% of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed, and 35% of LGBT employees in the United Kingdom hide that they are LGBT at work in fear of discrimination.⁠
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WELL promotes diversity and inclusion throughout all of an organization’s operations, including hiring practices, determination of salary and wages, workplace culture, and organizational structure.⁠
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#equalrights #loveislove #pride #lovewins⁠
#lgbtq #wellness #workplacewellbeing #employeehealth #workplacehealth #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 15

Did you know?⁠
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Sitting for prolonged amounts of time can increase your risk for many adverse health effects, such as high blood pressure, heart issues, weight gain and chronic back and neck pain.⁠
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An easy way to counteract negative helath impacts caused from sitting is by taking a microbreak. Set a reminder alarm on your phone. Getting up to move around every now and then stimulates your body and could increase your metabolic rate substantially.⁠
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#wellness #movement #exercise #physicalactivity ⁠
#mentalhealth #healthyliving #workplacewellbeing #employeehealth #workplacehealth #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 13

Bringing the Outdoors In: ⁠
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The Benefits of Biophilia. Green walls and plants are more than just trendy They’re an expression of biophilia – elements, patterns, or designs found in nature!⁠
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Many of us feel better after a walk in the mountains or by the sea. This is partially because plants purify the air, but biophilia – the idea that humans have an innate affinity with the natural world – means that the presence of nature supports our physical and mental well-being. ⁠
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A study found that recovering patients in an intensive care unit who⁠ were exposed to images of natural settings reported less anxiety and a lower need for strong pain medication than those exposed to abstract art and a blank canvas. Since the average American spends 90 percent of their life indoors, increasing biophilia in the built environment would have significant results.⁠
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#indoorairquality #indoorair #homeefficiency #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #naturalmaterials #biophilia #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 10

Reimaging Workplace Wellness⁠
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Workplace wellness has traditionally focused on programs and incentives offered by employers to engage employees in healthy lifestyle habits. The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has shown, however, that providing healthy workplaces requires more than providing health and fitness programs at work. The wellness of employees depends on larger environmental factors.⁠
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Today’s blog has been written by Shannon Rogers, a Chronic Pain, and Functional Rehabilitation Specialist, who deals with the result of workplace injuries and chronic pain daily basis. Shannon has unique insight into the causes of chronic pain and the treatment of a variety of workplace-related mental and physical health challenges. Improved indoor environmental quality is key to the treatment of, and moreover, the prevention of long-term illness. To check out the blog, click the link in our bio. ⁠
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#wellness #workplacewellbeing #employeehealth #workplacehealth #indoorairquality #indoorair #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 8

Did you know?⁠
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An estimated 18% of adults will experience a common mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse, over a 12-month period.⁠
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Meditating and practicing mindfulness can reduce your stress levels & help enhance your memory, increase awareness, and foster general well-being. ⁠
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Let's dedicate five minutes of each day to finding your inner calm and promoting mental health and well-being through the provision of supportive programs, policies, and resources.

#mentalhealth #mentalwellness #mentalwellbeing #mindfullness #healthlifestyle #health #wellness #kelownainteriordesign #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 6

Can material selection reduce hazards to occupants?⁠ ⁠
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In Part 1 of the blog we discussed four hazardous materials that the International Living Future Institute recommends should be avoided when creating a new space: Antimicrobials (Marketed with a Health Claim), Asbestos Compounds, Formaldehyde (Added), and Wood Treatments Containing Creosote or Pentachlorophenol. We discussed why these materials are considered harmful. In Part 2 we will offer some alternative design choices that are better for people and the environment, starting with flooring.⁠
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Check out our latest blog for these recommendations.⁠ Link is in our bio!⁠

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#sustainableliving #naturalmaterials #ecofriendly #sustainablematerials #ecodesign #sustainability #sustainabledesigners #greenbuilding⁠
#ecoenergy #sustainablehouse #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 3

How can your project provide for greater occupant comfort?⁠
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One major way to elevate your design is by focusing on natural and artificial lighting⁠. 💡Here are some tips:⁠
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· Design artificial electric lighting to supplement daylighting, as opposed to designing with only artificial light.⁠
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· Design interior spaces to reflect and illuminate natural daylight through opaque, light, and smooth surface finishes.⁠
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· Provide task lights that allow ambient lighting levels to be lower and provide for occupant control of their preferred lighting levels.⁠
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· Incorporate color-tunable lighting, also called dynamic or circadian lighting, to substitute for natural light.⁠
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· Balance the daylighting opportunities with glare mitigation. Glare is not a problem of too much light, but rather of too much contrast between light and dark surfaces, or of reflection off glossy or highly polished surfaces. Shading devices are one of many potential solutions to glare.⁠
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#lighting #lightingdesign #energyefficiency #energyefficient #ecofriendly #ecoenergy ⁠#wellness #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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Jun 1

Did you know?⁠
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According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), the number of Americans with some form of hearing loss has doubled during the past 30 years.⁠
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Chronic exposure to noise can lead to stress, which can lead to stress-related health effects.⁠
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Sound-insulating materials can isolate sound and reduce its transmission to other spaces. Studies have shown that noise reduction can reduce stress levels, increase concentration, and improve sleep.

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 30

National Access Ability Week (NAAW), held from May 29 to June 4, 2022, is a time to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and promote efforts to increase accessibility and inclusion in Canada.⁠
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The 7 principles of Universal design are:⁠
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🤍Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.⁠
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🤍Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences.⁠
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🤍Simple and Intuitive Use: The use of the design is easy to understand.⁠
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🤍Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user.⁠
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🤍Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended fatigue.⁠
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🤍Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum level of fatigue.⁠
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🤍Appropriate Size and Space: The appropriate size and space are provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user’s body size, posture, or mobility.⁠
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If you would like more information on creating an inclusive space call us for a consultation.⁠
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#InclusiveFromTheStart #NAAW2022 #wellness #workplacewellbeing #employeehealth #workplacehealth #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 27

Can material selection reduce hazards to occupants?⁠
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Through wellbeing design, our central objective really is to remove harmful chemicals from the built environment that are prohibiting people from living healthy lives. Just a few thousand years back People were building shelter exclusively out of what was around them - natural materials like wood from trees, clay, stone, or water. It turns out the building products that we primarily build now contain chemicals that are often very toxic to human bodies. They can now be found in almost every building product in a conventionally built building.⁠
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It's really important for us to know more, especially as designers and architects - to know enough to not include these materials that contain chemicals in the buildings that we're designing.⁠
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If you want to learn more about this topic check out our recent blog post: https://matthewsdesigngroup.ca/articles/can-material-selection-reduce-hazards-to-occupants%e2%81%a0/⁠ Link is also in our bio 😀
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#sustainableliving #naturalmaterials #ecofriendly #sustainablematerials #ecodesign #sustainability #sustainabledesigners #greenbuilding⁠
#ecoenergy #sustainablehouse #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 25

Did you know?⁠
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Most individuals around the world do not meet the daily recommended five servings (400 g) of fruits & veg. Insufficient⁠ fruit and vegetable intake is attributed to 5.2 million deaths worldwide.⁠
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We need to increase the availability and accessibility of fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of various diseases and ensure adequate nutrient, micronutrient, and dietary fiber intake.⁠
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We recommend you check out @grownherefarms as they believe in providing "high-integrity, high-consciousness food that nourishes and connects us to nature." ⁠
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Website: https://www.grownherefarms.com/

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 23

Did you know... only about 50% of American adults report meeting the recommended amount of weekly exercise? Luckily, there are easy ways to increase your physical activity.⁠
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The CDC recommends people complete 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity five days a week. This can be anything from brisk walking, biking to work, yoga, playing Frisbee or doubles tennis, to water aerobics. ⁠
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Simply encouraging your employees to bike to work can enormously impact their health for the better.

#biketowork #exercise #healthlifestyle #health #wellness #kelownainteriordesign #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 20

What is Design for Well-being? ⁠
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Good design supports the health and well-being of all people. When designing for well-being, the space is created while considering the physical, mental, and emotional effects on building occupants and the surrounding community.⁠
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Wellness focussed designers ask questions such as:⁠
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💙How can the design encourage a healthy lifestyle?⁠
💙How can the project provide for greater occupant comfort?⁠
💙How can the project be welcoming and inclusive for all?⁠
💙How can the project connect people with place and nature?⁠
💙How can material selection reduce hazards to occupants?⁠
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We are starting a knowledge base series of content dedicated to design and wellness so make sure to follow us on our socials! If you want to learn more about this topic check out our recent blog post. ⁠Link is in our bio 💙⁠
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#wellness #health #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #wellbuildinginstitute #kelownainteriordesign #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley⁠

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 18

Did you know?⁠
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Even when health-based thresholds for water quality are met, water may be found unappealing to drink because⁠
of taste, odor, and appearance concerns?⁠
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We can enhance the water quality to counteract these issues. ⁠
The treatment system to address nuisance chemicals depends⁠
on the contaminant of interest. Treatment options include filtration with carbon media and reverse osmosis.⁠
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By managing nuisance chemicals, projects can provide more appealing and palatable drinking water!

#cleanwater #employeehealth #workplacewellness #workplacewellbeing #workplacewellnessprogram #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

matthewsdesigngroupinc

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May 16

Are you looking for an Indoor Air Health & Safety Solution for your office or workspace?⁠
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Check out our most recent blog to learn how to implement employee demands for a safe, hybrid workplace model: https://matthewsdesigngroup.ca/articles/indoor-air-health-safety-solution-for-returning-to-office/⁠
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Link is also in our bio 🤍⁠
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#indoorairquality #indoorair #employeehealth #workplacewellness #workplacewellbeing #workplacewellnessprogram #healthybuildings #sustainabledesigns #kelownainteriordesign #wellness #health #interiordesign #westkelownainteriordesign #kelowna #okanagan #kelownanow #canada #kelownaliving #kelownabc #okanaganlife #okanaganlifestyle #ylw #westkelowna #britishcolumbia #okanaganliving #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley

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