The truth behind your indoor air quality
When it comes to the quality of the air in your home, how important is it for you to make sure that the air you breathe is actually not harming you? If anyone in your house has asthma or health problems, you may want to put indoor air quality at the top of your priority list for your home.
Whether you are building or renovating a home, there are a number of items to consider to make sure the indoor air quality in your home is healthy. When you work with a professional contractor, they will provide you with suggestions and ideas that are best suited for the lifestyle of your family.
It is important you are aware of potential factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality and how to fix these before they lead to potentially larger problems. Mould
One major area of concern that can create a negative impact on the quality of your indoor air is mould. If there is any excess moisture in your home, than you are opening yourself up to the potential for mould growth.
The kitchen and bathroom areas of a home have an even greater potential for mould growth if there is not proper ventilation. This can be fixed quite easily with the installation of proper exhaust fans to help to reduce the moisture which will eliminate the growth of mould.
If your moisture problem goes beyond this and your home requires extensive work, you may want to look at the ventilation system. If you already have one in your home, you want to ensure that it works properly, or if you do not have one, you may want to consider having one installed as it can greatly benefit the quality of your home’s indoor air by reducing moisture and dampness.
Products
From the beginning stages to the end of your project, you want to ensure products you choose will not have a harmful effect on your home’s air quality. This is done by choosing materials and products that have little or no off-gassing, such as paints, cabinets and flooring.
Even the choice of cleaners you use can create a negative reaction on the people living in your home.
Whether you are building or renovating there are a number of healthy choices that you can make that will create a healthier indoor environment for everyone living in your home.
For more information visit www.nshomebuilders.ca.
Indoor Air Quality
Submitted by vrvs on August 10, 2012 - 12:48pm.
There is an inexpensive eco friendly solution that continually improves indoor air quality and removes offensive odors. Air-ReNu is a blend of natural minerals made of a variety of elements, aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium and lithium. These minerals are finely ground then mixed with paint, when applied to a wall of a home. Air-ReNu, works 24/7/365 cleansing the air of impurities and removing odors.
Indoor Air Quality
Submitted by craigwhittaker on August 15, 2012 - 8:25am.
Thanks for writing about this important topic, Sherry. Your suggestion about working with the building contractor is a good one, however, I find that knowledgeable contractors are scarce when it comes to using safer building products and furnishings in a home. They are often reluctant to change brands or try something they have very little experience using. Therefore it is very important to work with a contractor who listens to you and at least acknowledges that what you are saying and asking for makes sense. Otherwise, they may nod approval and then do what they normally do (i.e., put in formaldehyde-laden cabinets, carpeting and glues, use paint loaded with VOCs, etc.)
Here in the U.S., contractors can receive training for green building techniques. Maybe there is an equivalent in Canada?