This article is more technical than most, but it addresses an important issue for today's homebuyers: how healthy their new home will be. That concern is no surprise, given that we're getting outside less often than ever. A 2018 YouGov survey of 16,000 people in North America and Europe found that most now spend about 90 percent of their time indoors.

The health and comfort of a new home has a lot to do with its heating, cooling and ventilation equipment. High-quality equipment will do a better job, but only if the builder works with the mechanical contractor to choose the right equipment type. With today's high-performance homes, that choice is no longer so simple.