Another major danger in the home – one that causes serious injury in lung cells, is radon, which silently hides in your living space, killing about 21,000 Americans each year. Although radon is a cancer-causing environmental hazard and not traditionally considered an injury, radon-related deaths can be avoided, and should be considered when assessing your home for safety.

Observe Home Safety Month by installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and safety devices to protect your children, and take other recommended measures to make yourself and your family safer in your home. And don’t forget to test for radon, the number one cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, and the cause of as many, if not more, home-related deaths than any other single, avoidable cause, including unintentional injuries.

Toxic chemicals in the air are responsible for a variety of health concerns for many, but especially for the elderly and the very young.  They include everything from dizziness in the short term to organ failure in the long term.

Authorities are urging homeowners to cooperate with attempts to test homes for toxic pollution.  Homeowners in neighborhoods affected by these toxic chemicals are reluctant to cooperate with authorities, however, because they are worried about de-valuing their property.  New York did pass a law this month, though, that requires landlords to inform tenants about the results of any indoor air quality tests that exceed safety guidelines.

Getting rid of this harmful indoor air pollution is similar to the process of radon remediation.  It involves sealing cracks and installing a ventilation system to draw contaminated air away from the home before it enters.  It generally costs $5000-$10000 and is paid for by the state, which then tries to recoup expenses from those responsible for the pollution.

Some areas are hoping that by proving the level of contamination is so high, they will be able to make a better case for Superfund designation, which draws federal cleanup money.

A recent article from Plenty magazine discusses ways to make your office environment “greener.”  Sick building syndrome -  the first topic discussed – occurs when buildings have limited access to fresh air, which causes VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and toxic mold to be allowed to re-circulate throughout the building.   To minimize the impact of negative indoor air quality, the article recommends leaving windows open, getting outside to get fresh air, and finding safer alternatives to toxic work materials

Then, the article recommends implementing several small changes at a time to green your work environment.  These include such simple changes as:

-cutting down on printing and using recycled paper
-saving energy by turning off computers and using CFL’s instead of incandescent bulbs
-bringing a coffee mug to work and making sure recyclables are really recycled. 

Read the whole article here.

There are many other ways to improve your indoor air quality both at home and at work.  For example, installing ventilation fans is an excellent way to improve the air flow throughout your indoor environment.  Also, air purifiers and central vacuums are simple solutions to making your indoor air cleaner.  Click here to find a professional who can help you improve your indoor air quality.

For the last few months newspapers and TV stations from Texas to Iowa, from New York to Seattle and points in between have been telling us that granite countertops can emit hazardous radon gas. But it wasn’t until the New York Times published "What’s lurking in your countertop?"  on July 24, 2008 that we began to receive calls asking us to comment on this increasingly emotional and controversial issue.

We have spoken with our own experts here at HomeAire and its parent company Spruce Environmental Technologies as well as with radon researchers and scientists across the country. All agree that radon is a dangerous gas that is known to cause lung cancer. (Radon-induced lung cancer kills more than 21,000 Americans each year.) They also agree that the most significant potential source of radon in your home is the rocks and soil beneath it, but that building materials such as granite also can emit radon.

Because of the escalation of public concern, the Technical and Science Committee of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST), whose members include many of the world’s leading radon researchers, educators and mitigation experts, released a statement on August 5, 2008 that presents the current opinion regarding the danger of granite countertops and recommends steps for determining whether you and your family are at risk from radon in your countertops.

Here is an excerpt from the AARST statement:

Radon Risk

The primary concern about indoor radon gas is the increased risk of lung cancer that exists from breathing radon and its byproducts. The magnitude of the risk depends on the radon concentration in the air you breathe and how long you are breathing it. Radon gas is a serious national concern. The risk of radon-related lung cancer increases the longer you are exposed although any exposure to radon poses some risk.
 
Testing for radon in the air you breathe should be a high priority and the first step for anyone concerned about radon gas. The US Surgeon General, US EPA, AARST and the American Lung Association recommend that all homes be tested for radon gas.
 
At this time, the EPA does not believe sufficient data exists to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels.

Radon Sources Including Granite

Soil, sand, and rock underneath the home are the primary sources of indoor radon gas. The soil under a house always contains traces of uranium that eventually decays into radium that then decays directly into radon. This soil constitutes an enormous surface area for release of radon gas into the air and into buildings. Materials inside a building such as concrete, granite, slate, marble, sand, shale and other stones can also contain traces of radium that release radon with varying intensities. While natural rocks such as granite may emit some radon gas, the subsequent levels of radon in the building that are attributable to such sources are not typically high. The contribution from building materials to the indoor radon concentration is very dependent upon the building ventilation rate.

Practical Diagnostic Radon Test

Diagnostic measurements of the radon in the air you breathe can provide better risk estimates.
 
Perform a radon measurement according to testing protocols (specified by EPA or AARST as noted below) in the lowest level (or lived-in level) of your home.
 
At the same time, perform another test in the room where the granite countertop or other suspect building material exists. You may also want to test in a highly occupied room, like your bedroom. (Use different rooms if these locations are on the same floor.)
 
Place the test devices at least 20 inches off the floor according to testing protocols and at least 20 inches away from the countertop or suspect material. Carefully follow all manufacturers’ test kit instructions.
 
You may also contact a State licensed or nationally certified radon measurement professional to conduct the measurements for you.
 
If any of the test results are at or above the EPA recommended action levels retest these areas to confirm the initial results.
 
Interpreting Radon Test Results
For guidance on test results and protocols for measurements of radon in the air, see documents such as EPA’s Citizens Guide to Radon or other EPA publications at http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs.   The full AARST Position Statement on Granite Countertops is on the AARST website.

If confirmed measurements are at, or above, the EPA recommended action levels, contact a State licensed or nationally certified mitigation professional to fix the home to reduce the radon levels.

If you decide to test your home – and the room(s) in which you have granite countertops – yourself, HomeAire can help. Our radon test kits include analysis by a nationally recognized, certified radon testing laboratory. Click here to order.

We can also help if you need a qualified measurement or mitigation professional. Click here to find a professional.

You’ve heard of the Atkin’s Diet, the South Beach Diet, even the Cookie Diet, but have you heard of the Hundred Mile Diet? If you’re watching your figure and counting calories and carbs, you may not have. This is because the Hundred Mile Diet has nothing to do with focusing on your weight – it has to do with being healthy, supporting local businesses, and helping the environment in the process. As farmers’ markets open for the Spring and fresh produce abounds, maybe you’d like to try your hand at the Hundred Mile Diet. It’s got 100% guaranteed results, and you’ll feel great about it.

So what exactly is the Hundred Mile Diet? It’s exactly what it sounds like – purchasing only the produce, meats, and other products grown, harvested, and packaged within 100 miles of your home. Of course, this will be easier for some people to implement than others, depending on your location and the season. But even if you can’t contain it to a 100 mile radius, even a 200, 300 or even 500 mile radius is better than nothing!

So how do you transition to the Hudred Mile Diet?

Like many major changes in life, it isn’t always easy. Some people go all out and dedicate their entire diet and lifestyle to abiding to the Hundred Mile rule – growing their own vegetables in their yard, purchasing fruits and deli meats from local butchers and farm stands, and avoiding foods altogether when they’re out of season locally. This means no oranges and lemons for you New Englanders in the winter! Sounds tough, doesn’t it? But there are ways you can adjust and adopt some of these principles even without going 100% local.

• Instead of buying imported fruits and vegetables from all over the country (and world!) at the local big-time supermarket, try to find a farm stand in your vicinity or a weekend farmers’ market that you can visit to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Buy excess of seasonal produce and can it or freeze it so you can preserve and enjoy it during the seasons of the year that it’s unavailable.

• Start your own vegetable garden in your yard. If you live in an apartment, you can easily have a small herb garden or grow tomatoes and peppers by your window or on your patio. 

• Purchase free-range meats from a local butcher. Local butchers have higher quality meats than the grocery store, and often they haven’t been shipped across the country to get to you.

• Use locally made baskets, dish towels, and other kitchen accessories to save on wasting paper towels and importing home goods from other states

The benefits of the 100 mile diet go beyond saving the environment and eliminating long-distance fuel costs and pollution. Eating locally also helps keep your local farmers in business. Small-scale family farming is becoming more and more scarce since big stores are wiping out their smaller competitors. It also helps you to stay healthy because you’re eliminating many of the processed, pre-packaged snack foods that are so common on supermarket shelves. Instead of purchasing cheese puffs or fruit snacks, you’re buying nuts and seeds, locally aged cheeses and dried fruits. Sounds like a diet worth sticking to!

For other ways to change your life for the greener, check out HomeAire’s line of environmentally friendly HEPA air filtration systems, Radon Test Kits, and other indoor air quality solutions. 

According to a Jetson Green article, unlike many other "low-VOC" paints available, the bases and pigments of these paints are actually completely VOC-free. This is great news for allergy sufferers and air quality-conscious people everywhere. By having such a large company offer a safe alternative to traditional house paints, this allows so many more people to have access to these paints, and to be made aware of them in the first place.

Even the packaging on these reasonably priced paints is eco-friendly! With recycled cans and soy-based ink on the labels, the FreshAire Choice paint is going all out for the Earth. 

The Jetson Green author does make a good point, though, that even though these are widely available now through Home Depot, this can put other, smaller businesses at a great disadvantage. It’s important to remember the social as well as environmental implications of your purchases. That said, this is a great alternative to traditional house paint, and we’re excited to see more and more companies jumping on the green bandwagon and taking our health and the health of our planet seriously. 

Earth day is coming up on April 22! With so many green living articles, websites, blogs, and ideas surfacing over the past year, it’s safe to say that this holiday is going to mean even more this year than ever before. In the spirit of the Earth-Friendly holiday, we at HomeAire are helping spread the word about an important campaign created by EnergyStar called the Change a Light, Change the World campaign.

If you’re not already aware, even seemingly small changes in your home can greatly contribute to the health of our planet. The goal of the Change a Light, Change the World campaign is to help motivate you to make these small changes, and to see what big changes can be made as a result of all of us doing our part to put our planet’s health at a higher priority in our lives. Are you ready to take the pledge to take action toward a more sustainable future? Or perhaps you’d like to apply to be a local sponsor. There is a form available for that as well.

We’re proud to be an EnergyStar Partner at HomeAire, so we know the importance of making a big impact through small, greener changes around the home, and provide a growing number of EnergyStar products to choose from to help you with those changes. If you have a question about our products, please don’t hesitate to contact us! And if you have further questions about the EnergyStar Change the World campaign, you can send an email to changetheworld@cadmusgroup.com or visit the EnergyStar Website for more information.

The following are the questions from the quiz. Ask yourself some of these questions to see where your home stands on the green scale:

1. Do your household cleaning products have labels with the words "poison", "danger", "warning", "caution" or other toxic indications? Even artificially scented products can rely on very toxic formulas.

2. How many water-saving devices do you have in your house/apartment? If you’re unsure, keep an eye out for low-flow faucets you could install, eco-friendly showerheads, more modern, water saving toilets, and new dishwashers or washing machines.

3. What type of lightbulbs do you use? Toss out your incandescent bulbs in favor of the newer compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 66% less energy than incandescent bulbs and generally last about 10 times longer. 

4. Where do you store your reusable grocery shopping bags? Trick question! If you don’t have any, it’s time to buy some. Many grocery stores offer bags right in the store that you can purchase, or you could use your own totes.

5. How many plastic water bottles are in your home? Portable water holds a price when you’re buying disposable plastic water bottles from the store. Orcutt shows us that the bottled water industry in the U.S. alone uses enough fossil fuel to run 3 million cars for a full year! Time to get out your reusable thermos or sturdy water bottle and fill it up from the tap, with a filter if you like.

6. What is your first priority when landscaping your yard? Using native plants that thrive in your local environment reduce water and fertilizer costs, and planting a tree will shade your home to reduce your heating and cooling bills year-round. Having a fruit or vegetable or herb garden in your yard is a perfect way to eat locally grown food, and besides, it’s fun!

The complete makeover of the previously run-down ranch included heat recovery systems, recycled and formaldehyde-free wood floors, an energy-efficient air circulation system, antique reclaimed furniture and other recycled home accents, low-VOC paints made from water, clay and mineral dyes, a heat-storing stone stairway, radiant heat and a gas fireplace (which combined cut their heating costs by 2/3!), and a calming, natural-looking decor to complement its earth-conscious atmosphere.

From the local forest made flooring to the recycled barn door separating the children’s rooms from one another, the Crawfords’ house has seemed to catch every last detail when it comes to blending functionality and design for a sustainable future. 

Pierpont gives us a few helpful tips throughout the article for making our homes a greener place without having to go to quite the extent that the Crawfords have –

• Use a programmable thermostat to reduce your home’s temperature when you’re home for longer than expected.

• Wash clothing in cold water (though remember to wash sheets and pillows in hot water to get rid of dust mites!) 

• Use household ingredients or environmentally friendly cleaners instead of toxic commercial chemicals.

• Insulate your hot water pipes with snap on foam.

• Limit the amount of grass you have that’s soaking up water and being sprayed with pesticides and herbicides.

Have you taken any action in your home to create a happier healthier place for your family and the environment? Let us know with a comment! 

The Building Green blog continuously provides some great tips for having a healthier, more Earth-friendly home. You may remember our post about safe, low-VOC paints for your home and nursery where we touched on a product called milk paint. Upon coming across the post "Building Green From A Painter’s Perspective" we were delighted to find an in-depth interview with a modern-day painting company, Shiloh Painting, discussing the measures they’re taking to go green with their business.

Shiloh Painting founder Isaac Klepac says that he feels that all components of the green movement we’re experiencing encompass not only a philosophy but a lifestyle. With the constant reminder to assess his current situation and see where he can improve and expand, Klepac has translated this philosophy into the green side of his business and has made some great strides in protecting the environment as well as the longevity of the homes he works on. Using water-based finishes and Sherman Williams’ Harmony line of VOC-free paints, Klepac’s work makes entering a freshly painted room literally a breath of fresh air. "the customer and my employees have a right to breath clean air." says Klepac. "There is a direct, immediate affect on someone’s health".

When asked about his predictions for the future of green building, he said "There is a trend beyond open floor plans. Instead of so many rooms, why not have multiple use rooms? Kitchens have already been transformed into a meeting places, so why not have multipurpose rooms?" With a trend toward smaller living spaces with more versatility, this means managing the air quality in the home can be even easier. With less cubic footage to keep in mind, homeowners can install central vacuum systems or air purifiers with ease and know they’re getting an efficient air quality solution for their home’s size.