Green Homes and Indoor Air Quality

I had the opportunity to speak with a builder last week. All of the houses he builds are certified green and Energy Star rated. This means that the materials he uses are low toxicity, such as low VOC paint and carpet adhesives, for example. In addition, his houses are tested by a third party to ensure that it is tightly sealed; air leakages drive up heating and cooling costs. If you wish to avail to one of his houses, you can find more info here.

In most modern homes, it is preferred to have an air conditioning installation with a high energy-efficiency rating, and their air conditioning and heating systems regularly checked by an air conditioning service and furnace repair contractor.

Sounds perfect, right? It is pretty great, but he did bring up a matter that I thought was interesting, and in line with much of what we’ve covered regarding indoor air pollution: A tightly sealed house, while it’s great for keeping heating and cooling inside (and outside weather out), also means that any pollutants that are present indoors are there in higher concentrations, with little chance of fresh air circulation.

Hence, any toxins that are in the home may have a greater effect on inhabitants’ health. For instance, radon that could be present, whether from the soil or from granite counter tops, could have a somewhat exaggerated effect as compared to the effect it would have in a not-so-tightly-sealed home. In addition, any pollutants that are introduced in the home environment from products like hairsprays, room fresheners, perfumes, art supplies, adhesives, chemical cleaners, etc. could easily build up in the home.

This, of course, is not to say that homes should not be tightly sealed. Rather, it’s important to be aware that the products you use on a day-to-day basis could be greatly affecting your family’s indoor air quality. Especially with Energy Star homes or homes that are properly insulated, it’s important to consider using natural cleaning products and natural personal products.

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