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| Our online October
poll asked, “Is the air quality in your
home better or worse than the air quality outside?” 67% guessed "better," but EPA studies of air pollution have found that air pollution is actually worse indoors. If you are building, remodeling or redecorating, there’s never been a better time to go green. Green building is unquestionably healthier for your family and better for our environment too.
If you choose traditionally-manufactured materials (including carpets, paints, plywood, fabrics and furniture), you’re likely to bring carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals into your home. But by “going green” (choosing safe, eco-friendly products and techniques), you can protect your growing family's health, eliminate allergens, and clear the air in your home of harmful chemicals. You’ll also help the environment and improve the value, function and beauty of your home. Homeowners and builders now have a wide range of choices when it comes to picking eco-friendly, toxin-free materials that are beautiful, practical, and economical, meaning you can build green without compromising on style or design, and without breaking your budget.
EPA studies of air pollution show that in the US today, the most polluted air we breathe is in our homes. This is important because we spend up to 80% of our time indoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than air pollutants outdoors. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution because their growing lungs are more fragile, because they spend so much time indoors these days, and because their bodily defenses are less well-developed than those of adults. Unless manufacturers and builders take steps to avoid toxic materials, your lovely new room may wind up containing harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, preservatives, insecticides and bacteriocides, and dyes. Many of these have been shown to be carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), and—especially when new—they can cause headaches, respiratory problems, nerve damage, allergies and asthma. These chemicals contaminate the air through a process known as “off-gassing” for a remarkably long time–as much as two years! Green materials protect your family from these toxins.
Look for formaldehyde-free, no-VOC building materials and products. Most major paint manufacturers, for example, make some form of VOC solvent-free or low-VOC paint. No paint can truly have "zero" VOCs, but less than 5 grams per liter (g/l) can be considered very low VOC, and sometimes these are called “zero-VOC” paints. There are also no-VOC decorative wall plasters available if you want an alternative to paint. Look for hardwood flooring from managed forests that are FSC Certified (Forest Stewardship Council), and use chemical-free glues and adhesives. You can choose tiles and countertops made of post-consumer recycled glass, paper, milk containers—even recycled money! And as organic fabrics become more mainstream, there are more and more pesticide-free choices for clothing, linens and furnishings. There are products that warn occupants of health hazards in the building, (carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, for example, or lead paint test kits and other IAQ test kits). Other products prevent pollutants from contaminating your home environment. Duct mastic, for example, can block the entry of mold-laden air or insulation fibers into a duct system and "track-off" systems for entryways help to remove pollutants from the shoes of guests entering your home.
A growing body of evidence shows that natural daylight is beneficial to our health and productivity. Tubular skylights, specialized commercial skylights, and fiber-optic daylighting systems offer different ways to shine some daylight into your home.
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