Il giornale · The journal
Questions a home asks.
Short answers first, sources at the end. Organized by the seven elements so you can start with what you notice.
Anchor essay
Why a draft feels like it makes you sick
The Italian colpo d'aria, air conditioning, and what the science actually supports.
Read
I
Air- Explainer · 8 minCan bad air quality make you sick?Common indoor irritants, what they can cause, and how to tell a pattern from a diagnosis.
- FAQ · 6 minIndoor air quality, answeredShort, plain answers to the questions homeowners ask most.
- Explainer · 4 minDo plants improve air quality?What the famous NASA study found, and why it does not translate to your living room.
- Explainer · 6 minWildfire smoke at homeHow to create one cleaner room when the air outside turns hazy.
- Buying context · 7 minDo air purifiers actually help with allergies?What they can and cannot do, and how to decide whether you need one.
- Buying context · 5 minPet dander: when a purifier is part of the answerWho a purifier helps, who it does not, and what matters more.
- Buying context · 9 minFurniture and mattress offgassingWhat that new smell is, whether to worry, and how to reduce it—ventilation first.
- Explainer · 7 minWhat is a HEPA filter?What the standard actually means, what HEPA captures and what it cannot, and how to read the spec sheet.
- Seasonal guide · 5 minWhat actually matters about winter temperatureWhy 68°F can feel cold, and why the number matters less than the room.
- Explainer · 6 minIs air conditioning bad for the environment?The honest footprint of cooling a home, and what actually reduces it.
- Buying context · 8 minIs a heat pump right for your home?What a heat pump is, how it heats and cools, and when it is the right choice.
- Troubleshooting · 7 minWhy is one room colder than the rest?A practical troubleshooting guide: drafts, insulation and uneven heating.
III
Humidity- Seasonal guide · 7 minWhat should indoor humidity be in winter?A seasonal guide to dry air, damp air and the condensation between them.
- Explainer · 6 minDust mites live on humidityWhy keeping relative humidity below 50% is one of the few interventions that reduces mite populations.
- Explainer · 6 minWhat does mold smell like, and what should you do about it?The musty smell explained, where to look when you smell it but cannot see it, and when a smell is a reason to act.