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with green construction.” The company’s educational out-
BEYOND
THE GREEN Pathway Design & Construction Helps Create Truly Healthy Homes
by Ann Dorn
or Paul Kocharhook and Doug Kennedy, of Pathway Design & Construction, thinking green is only part of the solution to build- ing truly healthy homes. Instead, they go “beyond the green,” building Earth-friendly dwellings that are well ventilated and free of allergenic envi- ronmental contaminants, or triggers, that cause reactions and symptoms in susceptible individuals.
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“Most of our clients seek us out because they have an interest in sustainability, as well as allergies or chemical sensitivity issues,” Kochar- hook says. As the owner of the design- and-build construction and remodel firm, he traces his passion for healthy homes to his previous experience in sustainable construction that lasted more than a decade.
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A Mission-Driven Company Kocharhook’s Pathway team members share his commitment. In addition to their reputation for customer service and quality craftsmanship, they devote many working hours to educating building professionals and the public about healthy home construction and maintenance. Although the company was founded less than three years ago, it has already garnered several awards for both construction projects and educational leadership. “Pathway’s belief in green con- struction and their refusal to do any other kind means first of all, qual- ity,” says Pathway client and Whittier Heights resident Loralee Deshazor. “The other thing I really respect is their time and effort teaching others and bringing other companies on board
reach includes speaking in an array of settings, both private and public. Pathway has also advised the produc- tion team of a television series, The House that Saved the World, which is currently being submitted to PBS for consideration. In addition, the firm was part of the team that helped rewrite the Built Green Remodeler Handbook for a Master Builder’s Association program that helps homeowners achieve a more sustainable, healthier home. The Pathway crew says their liveli- hood is more than a job—it’s a way to make the world a better place. “The impact that our homes have on our children is really important to me,” say Kocharhook. “We’re starting to see in- creases in childhood asthma and other illnesses, and they are directly related to the lifestyles we’re living.”
Healthy Homes Are
for Everyone Kocharhook believes healthy homes are important for everyone, not just those with chemical sensitivities. Ac- cording to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, mold, allergens like pet dander, particles of wood, paper, pesticides tracked in from out- doors and even tire “dust” or fragments in the air are among the contaminants that may be linked to shortness of breath, allergic skin reactions, nausea, fatigue and asthma. “I think many people don't realize
why they wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose or crusty eyes,” Kochar- hook says. “There could be environ-
This Ballard addition includes a living roof, rainwater catchment system and the use of FSC lumber.
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