AAt Zixo Homes, we believe a truly modern home should do more than offer energy savings— it should actively promote your health. While airtight, insulated homes are great for reducing heat loss, they also trap pollutants indoors. Without proper ventilation and safe materials, your home could be quietly contributing to chronic illness, fatigue, or respiratory disease. That’s why Zixo Homes combines Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) and non-toxic construction materials to build homes that are as healthy as they are sustainable.
It might seem counterintuitive, but new homes are often more polluted than old ones. According to Public Health England, VOC levels in new builds were found to be five times higher than the acceptable range, and formaldehyde levels were double the World Health Organization’s guideline limits. This is largely due to: • Fresh paint, glues, and sealants • Engineered wood products like MDF and particle board • Insulation foams and laminates • Tightly sealed environments that trap emissions In 2019, Global Action Plan revealed that: • 45% of UK homes had VOC levels above healthy limits • 17% were classified as having high to serious pollution levels • A fifth of UK homes had significant formaldehyde exposure Formaldehyde—a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant—has been linked to symptoms like sore throats, breathlessness, headaches, and chronic rhinitis. Worse still, it’s associated with long-term health risks such as asthma and even cancer. In 2019 alone, 4,000 new cases of childhood asthma were attributed to formaldehyde exposure.
Modern, energy-efficient homes are often built with tight envelopes that reduce airflow— leading to moisture build-up, damp, and mould. According to a 2023 UK Government report: • 6.5 million households in the UK are affected by damp and mould • 5,000 asthma cases and 8,500 respiratory infections were linked to this exposure in 2019 The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to prolonged mould exposure brought this crisis to light and led to the passing of Awaab’s Law, requiring landlords and developers to fix hazardous housing conditions within strict timeframes.
Our new homes are fitted with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems that maintain fresh air circulation while retaining indoor warmth. MVHR systems: • Extract stale air, pollutants, and humidity • Deliver filtered, oxygen-rich air to every room • Prevent condensation, mould, and dust mites • Significantly reduce allergens and asthma triggers Backed by the Passivehaus Trust, MVHR is recommended as a core solution for both new builds and retrofits, ensuring homes stay dry, breathable, and efficient.
We avoid toxic materials at every stage of construction. Instead, Zixo Homes uses: • Low-VOC, formaldehyde-free paints and sealants • Natural flooring, insulation, and solid woods • Breathable materials that allow moisture to escape, preventing damp Our materials are hand-selected to reduce off-gassing and promote long-term respiratory health—especially for children and vulnerable individuals.
To further enhance indoor air quality, Zixo Homes integrates smart air purifiers that seamlessly connect with your home automation system. These purifiers actively monitor and remove airborne pollutants such as allergens, fine dust, VOCs, and formaldehyde—adjusting their performance in real-time based on air quality data. Controlled via app or voice command, they automatically activate when pollutant levels rise, ensuring a consistently clean, healthy environment without any manual input. Combined with MVHR systems and non-toxic materials, they provide an added layer of protection—especially beneficial for families with children, elderly residents, or respiratory sensitivities.
Poor indoor air quality has been linked to: • Asthma, chronic fatigue, allergies, and even cancer • Mental health impacts due to constant low-grade stress and inflammation • Poor sleep and reduced immunity, especially in children And yet, indoor air is something we often overlook. According to the World Health Organization, people spend over 90% of their time indoors, making it critical that our homes support—not sabotage—our health. Zixo Homes: Designing with Health in Mind Our founder, a medical doctor, created Zixo Homes with one goal in mind: to build homes that heal. Every Zixo home is: • Ventilated with clean, filtered air • Built with materials that protect your lungs, not pollute them • Designed to prevent mould and damp from ever taking hold In a market flooded with homes focused only on aesthetics or profit margins, Zixo Homes stands apart by putting human health at the heart of every decision.