La Voz

Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: Features

Monday, October 30th, 2006


Dear EarthTalk: What kinds of home improvements could I do that would make my house healthier and more environmentally friendly? -- Elizabeth Bram, via e-mail

Most homes are not lacking in ways they can be healthier for family and kinder to the environment. For one, indoor air quality is a serious problem affecting millions of homes.

Studies show that air within homes can be more seriously polluted than the air outdoors - even in the largest and most industrialized cities.

According to Glenn Haege, a master handyman who hosts a national radio show on home repair, as our homes and apartments have become more energy efficient and airtight, "humidity levels from cooking and breathing tend to increase, causing mold and mildew."

Harmful chemicals, he says, from construction materials, insulation, furniture, carpeting, padding, paints, solvents and household cleaners, drawn by this moist atmosphere, combine to contaminate the indoor air which then stays trapped inside. The first step in remedying this problem is to test your indoor air.

Pure Air and Envirologix, among others, sell inexpensive and easy-touse indoor-air quality testing kits. Once you get an idea of the contaminants floating around your home, you can get to work replacing the offending sources accordingly.

Green superstores such as the Environmental Home Center, Green Building Supply and Oikos offer a wealth of greener and healthier building supplies and materials. Also, BuildingGreen.com offers a free online "GreenSpec" database with detailed listings for over 2,000 environmentally preferable building products.

Materials outside the home can also contribute to health problems. One example is pressure-treated lumber, which contains a form of cyanide to keep pests away. Kids who play on backyard jungle gyms and decks made of such material can develop rashes and skin infections.

Continued...

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