Indoor Air Quality Facts:
• According to the EPA, we spend 90% of our time indoors and 65% of our time at home.
• Indoor air is 3-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. • EPA report: Americans spend 90% of time indoors. • 65% of our indoor time is at home. • poor indoor air quality can cause allergies and asthma.
Radon Info:
Radon is a radioactive gas and is mostly found in basements. It’s the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after cigarettes. The levels can be very dangerous and but it’s very easy to test. For 12 dollars, you can buy a radon test kit from your hardware store and send it off to see if you have radon in your basement.
Additional Products That Impact Or Measure Air Quality
• A carbon monoxide detector $30.
• Buy natural cleaning supplies, non toxic. • Avoid particle boards with VOC’s, volatile organic compounds. • Buy non toxic paint and finishes. • Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent to replace toxic cleaning products. • Humidistat (40-60% is best range) $35.
Ventilation The most important rooms in the house to ventilate: kitchen & bathroom. You can go with a whole system approach like an energy recovery ventilator. It’s the process of exchanging the energy contained in normally exhausted building or space air and using it to treat (precondition) the incoming outdoor ventilation air. Talk to the same company that does your furnace tune-ups for more info.
Avg cost of ERV (Energy Ventilator Recovery) system $1500-2000.
For more tips on how to keep your air clean and healthy, go to Jeff’s website www.thegreenedhouseeffect.com.
