Healthier Homes.
Your Questions, Answered.
From the air you breathe to the water you drink, get to know the features that make a Brookfield home feel like home. Find a topic below and explore the details.
Air Quality
What does the carbon air filter do?
A carbon air filter uses activated carbon to help adsorb certain gases, odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air passing through the filter.
In a home equipped with enhanced air filtration, the carbon component works alongside the mechanical filter to help improve the overall indoor air environment.
In a home equipped with enhanced air filtration, the carbon component works alongside the mechanical filter to help improve the overall indoor air environment.
What is an HRV and why is it important?
A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) brings fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air.
The system transfers heat between the outgoing and incoming air streams, helping recover energy that would otherwise be lost. This allows the home to receive fresh air while helping maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
The system transfers heat between the outgoing and incoming air streams, helping recover energy that would otherwise be lost. This allows the home to receive fresh air while helping maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
Why are low-VOC materials used in Healthier Homes?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that can be released, or “off-gassed,” from some building and household materials.
Where specified, lower-VOC paints, flooring, carpets and other materials can help reduce the amount of VOCs released into the indoor environment.
Where specified, lower-VOC paints, flooring, carpets and other materials can help reduce the amount of VOCs released into the indoor environment.
Why are carbon monoxide detectors included on every level?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless and colourless gas that can be produced by fuel-burning appliances and equipment.
Healthier Homes include carbon monoxide detection on every level, including unfinished basements, to provide an additional layer of safety and help alert homeowners to the presence of carbon monoxide.
Healthier Homes include carbon monoxide detection on every level, including unfinished basements, to provide an additional layer of safety and help alert homeowners to the presence of carbon monoxide.
Water Filtration
What is a three-stage reverse osmosis (RO) system?
A three-stage reverse osmosis system uses multiple filtration steps to treat drinking water before it reaches your tap.
The stages work together to reduce different types of impurities, with the reverse osmosis membrane providing the primary filtration. Depending on the specific system, the process can reduce substances such as dissolved minerals and salts, certain metals and other contaminants.
The final filtration stage can also help improve the taste and odour of the water.
The stages work together to reduce different types of impurities, with the reverse osmosis membrane providing the primary filtration. Depending on the specific system, the process can reduce substances such as dissolved minerals and salts, certain metals and other contaminants.
The final filtration stage can also help improve the taste and odour of the water.
What does reverse osmosis remove from water?
Reverse osmosis can reduce a broad range of dissolved substances, including many dissolved salts, minerals and metals. It can also reduce certain contaminants such as fluoride, nitrate and other substances, depending on the specific membrane and system.
The exact contaminants removed and the percentage reduction depend on the RO system, membrane and water quality. For this reason, homeowners should refer to the specifications for the specific system installed in their home.
The exact contaminants removed and the percentage reduction depend on the RO system, membrane and water quality. For this reason, homeowners should refer to the specifications for the specific system installed in their home.
Does reverse osmosis remove everything from water?
No. Reverse osmosis is not designed to remove every possible contaminant, and performance varies depending on the system and the quality of the incoming water.
It is also different from a whole-home water treatment system. In a typical RO application, treated water is provided at a specific drinking-water tap rather than throughout the entire home.
It is also different from a whole-home water treatment system. In a typical RO application, treated water is provided at a specific drinking-water tap rather than throughout the entire home.
Why use reverse osmosis for drinking water?
Reverse osmosis provides an additional level of filtration for drinking and cooking water. By reducing many dissolved substances and impurities, it can provide a cleaner-tasting water experience right at the kitchen tap.
What is a UV water treatment system?
Ultraviolet (UV) water treatment uses UV light to inactivate microorganisms as water passes through the system.
Unlike chemical disinfection, UV treatment does not add a chemical to the water. Its effectiveness depends on factors such as the UV dose, water quality and proper system operation.
Unlike chemical disinfection, UV treatment does not add a chemical to the water. Its effectiveness depends on factors such as the UV dose, water quality and proper system operation.
Safety & Radon
What is a passive radon mitigation system?
A passive radon mitigation system is designed to provide a pathway for radon gas to move from beneath your home and safely vent outdoors.
Our Healthier Homes include a passive radon mitigation stack as part of the home's construction. The system uses natural pressure differences and airflow to help move radon from beneath the foundation and out through the roof.
Our Healthier Homes include a passive radon mitigation stack as part of the home's construction. The system uses natural pressure differences and airflow to help move radon from beneath the foundation and out through the roof.
What is the difference between passive and active radon mitigation?
Both systems are designed to help reduce radon levels by moving radon gas from beneath a home to the outdoors. The key difference is how the air moves.
A passive system relies on natural airflow and pressure differences to move radon through the mitigation pipe.
An active system adds a continuously operating fan to the system, creating additional airflow and actively drawing radon from beneath the home.
Brookfield Residential includes passive radon mitigation in every Healthier Home. If testing after occupancy indicates that radon levels require further reduction, an active fan can be added to the system.
A passive system relies on natural airflow and pressure differences to move radon through the mitigation pipe.
An active system adds a continuously operating fan to the system, creating additional airflow and actively drawing radon from beneath the home.
Brookfield Residential includes passive radon mitigation in every Healthier Home. If testing after occupancy indicates that radon levels require further reduction, an active fan can be added to the system.
Why does Brookfield include radon mitigation in every Healthier Home?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home from the ground. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless, so you cannot detect it without testing.
Because radon is an important consideration for Alberta homeowners, we incorporate passive radon mitigation into our Healthier Homes from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Because radon is an important consideration for Alberta homeowners, we incorporate passive radon mitigation into our Healthier Homes from the start rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Does passive radon mitigation eliminate radon from my home?
No. A passive mitigation system is designed to help reduce radon levels by providing a pathway for radon to exit the home, but it does not guarantee that radon will be eliminated.
The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test it. If testing indicates elevated levels, an active mitigation system can be considered.
The only way to know the radon level in your home is to test it. If testing indicates elevated levels, an active mitigation system can be considered.
BuiltGreen Environment
What do triple-pane windows contribute to a Healthier Home?
Triple-pane windows have three panes of glass separated by insulating spaces. Compared with conventional double-pane windows, they can provide improved thermal performance and help reduce heat loss.
They can also contribute to greater indoor comfort by reducing cold surfaces and drafts near windows.
They can also contribute to greater indoor comfort by reducing cold surfaces and drafts near windows.
How does the home's building envelope contribute to a Healthier Home?
The building envelope is the physical separation between the interior and exterior of the home — including walls, windows, doors, roof and foundation.
A well-designed and properly constructed envelope helps manage heat, air and moisture movement. This contributes to energy efficiency, durability and a more comfortable indoor environment.
A well-designed and properly constructed envelope helps manage heat, air and moisture movement. This contributes to energy efficiency, durability and a more comfortable indoor environment.
What does “designed to the BUILT GREEN® Standard” mean?
The BUILT GREEN® Standard considers a range of areas related to environmentally responsible homebuilding, including energy efficiency, materials, indoor air quality, water conservation and waste management.
When a Brookfield home is identified as designed to the BUILT GREEN® Standard and verified, it means the home has been built according to the applicable requirements of the program and verified through the BUILT GREEN® process.
When a Brookfield home is identified as designed to the BUILT GREEN® Standard and verified, it means the home has been built according to the applicable requirements of the program and verified through the BUILT GREEN® process.
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