Dogs, Carpets and Fireplaces

Last fall I took a Healthy Home Training Class sponsored by the MBA/Built Green, the American Lung Association & the NW EcoBuilding Guild. It was an outstanding, comprehensive, detailed class with a phenomenal cast of teaching characters. Specialists from the area (we are fortunate to have many local experts) convened to share their knowledge in building science materials, processes, moisture & ventilation, design, importance of owner maintenance and overall health, as it relates to the building industry. I highly recommend this class (no- I get no kickbacks for enrollment). *A new session begins March 19th- go to www.Builtgreen.net for more info.

Sadly, it turns out that three of the worst indoor air quality offenders are common feel-good pieces that are hard to give up- fireplaces, dogs and wall to wall carpet. We gave up use of the fireplace (they consume more energy than they create and wood smoke has many harmful effects) and ditched the carpeting, but are holding tight to Carlos Ronaldo Tevez- our dog. He is our hairy third child.

The EPA says that we spend over 90% of our time indoors, and our indoor air can be 5x as polluted as the outdoor air. As you may have guessed, giving up smoking is the #1 way to help indoor air quality. Universal knowledge at this point, but the second best way to help IAQ is to shed your shoes at the door. Best to leave fragments of tires, insect hair, pesticides, lead (think little, black pellets from soccer fields) outside. If you tend towards DIY home improvement behaviors, make sure to use an N100 mask so particulates can’t get through. Don’t heat up paint to remove it- as the heat activates bad chemicals. The #1 reason for hospital visits on the weekend are DIY homeowners.

A great HEPA (High Efficency Particulate Air) vacuum cleaner is the Red Light-Green Light, made by Hoover. When particulates are out, it turns from red to green. ‘They’ say it’s fabulous- you can see, smell and feel the results. Use the dust mask when vacuuming. If you must install carpet, get one that is low pile and does not off-gas. That new carpet odor is formaldehyde. Have your carpets hot water steam extracted every 6 mos. and damp dust weekly.

Use eco-friendly cleaning materials. A no-brainer. Go to www.alaw.org/mhe for a brochure w/green cleaning recipes. Repeat headliners are borax, white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and lemons.

If your home is a construction site, you need to take extra precautions to keep indoor air quality healthy. It’s especially important if you have asthma or chemical sensitivities, but smart and necessary regardless.

One remodeler I work with, in particular, preps and preserves for remodels efficiently and religiously, every time. I went out to see how a kitchen remodel with one of our clients was developing and I was happy to see they had appropriately sealed (and then some) and had both the HEPA fan w/ HEPA filter (which separates out the particulates) and the electronic air cleaner on site. Standard practice. The clients absolutely raved about the contractor from every angle and I am sure that the care that Paul and company took to protect her health during the process was much appreciated.