Archive for the ‘Health / Safety / Indoor Air’ Category
May 6, 2013
A fairly comprehensive list of ailments sufferable from your very own home was posted in this article.
It is disheartening to read that more than “30 million homes have significant health problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. More than 20 million housing units have a lead-based paint hazard. And more than 6.8 million homes have radon exposures above the level at which remedial action should be taken, as determined by the EPA.”
Building materials, new and old can affect our indoor air quality. Moisture can lead to problems as well especially when it helps foster the growth of mold. Lead is still an issue in older homes, and carbon monoxide, one of our regular topics is also a concern.
How in the world do you keep track of all of this? Certainly knowledge is power. Learning more about hazards can help you avoid them. We’ve had numerous posts on CO, information in our learning center and there are other resources as well such as the EPA.
One quote from the same piece that I really appreciated was this: In our cars, we have oil and check engine lights,” says Rebecca Morley, executive director of the National Center for Healthy Housing. “There’s no such light for a house.” This is true, and one of the reasons why an energy assessment of your home that is focused on health and safety is so critical. It can be like a check engine light going off, then its’ just a matter of finding a mechanic to fix it.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:carbon monoxide, Check engine light, CO, energy assessment, EPA, IAQ, lead, radon
Posted in Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
April 17, 2013
We’ve posted about CO in the past. It comes up in the news too often, and it is something we should all be concerned about. A case in Aspen, Colorado is moving to trial following the death of a family due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Aspen Daily News reported that According to the lawsuit, the boiler’s exhaust piping was disconnected, because it had been “neither properly primed, glued or sealed and was not securely attached, supported or braced in any way.” They also found that the vent to pull fresh air in was not connected to the outside so it only recirculated CO in the home.
This seems like gross negligence, and the reason why installers need to be certified, as well as why codes are in place. Even with this, systems fail when they are not maintained.
- Install a CO monitor and check it annually much like a smoke detector.
- Have your combustion appliances checked regularly.
- Regular HVAC service calls are important.
- Even better have a BPI certified auditor assess your home. It is part of a very thorough inspection of not only water heaters, furnaces and boilers, but also gas ovens and fireplaces, some things HVAC technicians may not normally inspect.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:Aspen Daily News, BPI, carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide poisoning, CO, CO monitor, Colorado, Health and Saftey, HVAC, IAQ
Posted in Health / Safety / Indoor Air | Leave a Comment »
February 26, 2013
If you could reduce your energy bills by more than 50% would you? In Syracuse, New York, our office has been working on ways to excel at making your home more energy efficient. Call it Home Performance on Steroids, an Extreme Energy Makeover or Deep Energy Retrofit, it is a new tool in our tool belt to increase comfort and save energy in your home.
As part of a research project for NYSERDA, GreenHomes America has been experimenting with “kicking it up a notch” as Emeril would say. Last summer in our top secret labs (we had to park a truck elsewhere) we spent some time fine tuning ways to improve homes above and beyond what we usually do.
The projects from this fall and early winter have gone great, and the Steroids metaphor sounds good but really, these results have been achieved with honest hard work, side effect free! I will be talking more about these projects as well the benefits of Deep Energy Retrofits in future posts. Stay tuned!
Thanks,
Jason.
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Tags:BAM, deep energy retrofit, DER, Emeil Legasse, energy retrofits, existing home retrofits, insulation, NYSERDA, siding, windows
Posted in Air-Sealing, Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Geeks / Energy Policy, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Wild Stuff | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2013
As we look to improve our homes and the air in it, taking control of the airways are very important. Come wintertime, we often struggle with comfort in more ways that just staying warm. Sometimes it gets dry too. People tend to be comfortable with humidity levels a little higher than what is ideal to prevent condensation issues and mold growth.
Winter brings dryer air and a home that is more porous than it should be brings that air inside. Keep in mind that our homes are like chimneys. They are smoke stacks drawing from low and exhausting out high. When exceptionally dry air is brought into our homes it tends to make us uncomfortable. The quick fix solution is to slap a humidifier on the duct work. Voila! Comfort!
This can come with a price, maintenance for one. If you don’t keep that unit clean it can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Just the sort of thing you don’t want attached to the air distribution system in your home, sort of like building over a stinky damp crawlspace.
Sealing up air leaks in your home will help control moisture by reducing much of the dry air entering in the first place. If you still need humidification then keep the unit clean and monitor humidity levels. Excessive condensation on windows, and mold growth in wintertime are signs that you might have too much moisture in the air. Take control of your airways and manage moisture too!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:air-sealing, comfort, dehumidifiers, dry air, furnace, humidity, winter air
Posted in Air-Sealing, Furnaces, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Heating & Cooling Tips | Leave a Comment »
February 11, 2013
Sometimes it’s the simple things that can be done to make your home a healthier and safer one. Bath fans help move a great deal of moisture out of the room and are a really good idea. But where the moisture goes next is just as important.
Not quite far enough
A ten minute shower can use 16 gallons of water or more, and generate a great deal of steam. It’s not good to leave all that moisture to accumulate on the walls and ceiling in a small room since it can lead to odors as well as mold growth.
So we fire up the fan and it hums away pulling moisture out of the room to…..the attic? It seems pretty simple, but it needs to go to the outside. Often vents end up in the attic or even worse, buried in insulation or a wall and stop there. Every exhaust fan in a home needs to vent to the outside.
Maybe your mirror won’t fog up if it vents to the attic, but moisture will build up elsewhere. Rotting out the roof or growing mold in the attic isn’t any better! Ice dams and roof damage should not be part of your ventilation strategy!
Bath fans can help the whole house too, and I’ve written about it in the past in taking control of the airways. Ventilation is important in our homes, make sure excess moisture gets outside!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:attic, bath fan, bath fans, excess moisture, exhaust fan, ice dams, moisture, mold growth, ventilation, whole house ventilation
Posted in Health / Safety / Indoor Air | Leave a Comment »
December 11, 2012
Some may have heard the expression before: “Proper Planning Prevents Pretty Poor Performance” or possibly a less pleasant version, but I will leave that to your imagination. Permutations previewed in this photo provide possibilities for a plethora of problems, primarily CO poisoning!
Please provide proper ventilation for atmospheric combustion equipment such as the water heater shown here. 
This is common configuration for a water heater, drawing combustion air from its surroundings, but it can create problems!
Pressures in a house can change and affect equipment like this. Our predecessors discovered that it was more pleasant when smoke from the fire went up the chimney. It’s more than pleasant but imperative!
This chimney shown is going downhill before it goes up, the primary problem! Our heating equipment needs to be vented properly or those gasses enter our homes. Consider having your combustion equipment checked as part of a whole house assessment.
Please, a plug, poke, or paltry plea, proper planning provides prime performance, and prevents poisoning (CO that is!).
Pthanks,
Jason
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Tags:carbon monoxide, CO poisoning, combustion safety, home energy audit, indoor air quality, indoor air quality issues, Six P's, water heater
Posted in Energy Audits, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Heating & Cooling Tips, Water Heaters / Hot Water, Wild Stuff | Leave a Comment »
November 19, 2012
It’s that time of year again and I look forward to the family gathering so we can stuff ourselves like birds. With the colder weather we close up our homes, so it is time to ensure that our heating equipment is in good shape, like I mentioned last week in talking about fall clean ups.
Here are a few safety tips for the kitchen:
- Keep the cooking area clear of clutter: Don’t overload a cook top with too many pots and pans. More heat and more confusion can increase the chance for burns and grease fires.
- Dress for the occasion! Cooking means being near the stove and range. Make sure you won’t get snagged or burned in the process. Wear tighter fitting clothes or short sleeves in the kitchen.
- Turn handles in. We can forget some of these simpler things, but there may be more going on that you are used to in the kitchen and more kids too!
- Do not pour water on a grease fire. Turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid onto the pan. Leave the lid in place until the pot or pan is cooled, water will only make it worse!
- Turn off the stove when you are done: Easy to forget in a busy kitchen trying to get everything to the table. Hot surfaces are part of it but, how well is your oven vented? Or is it?
This last tip reminds me of a few posts from last year.
I still subscribe to our Director of QA and Safety, Dave Abrey’s theory of sleepy guests. It might not be the Turkey!
Be thankful, stay safe, and stay warm!
Enjoy the holiday!
Jason
Image courtesy of Grant Snider from incidentalcomics.com
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Tags:CO, cooking tips, Health and Saftey, Holiday, Sleepy Guests, Thanksgiving
Posted in Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners | Leave a Comment »
November 16, 2012
In New England it is easy to see the seasons change. It’s a time of harvest and preparation for our comfort through the coldest part of the year. There’s plenty to do outside the home never mind on the inside.
For one thing it is time to tune up the furnace or boiler before the heating season begins. Preventative maintenance is a good thing and worth the minor expense to ward of a major one in the middle of the heating season. With a contractor you trust, that clean and tune may be part of a service agreement and can save you even more.
Your heating system is not the only thing that should get a tune up though. For many of us, it’s the home too! Even with the cleanest running furnace or boiler in your home, it is important to consider how well the building is insulated, resists air leakage, deals with moisture and provides indoor air quality.
Since heating systems and buildings interact with each other, it’s a great idea to consider treating them together. Seek out certified and experienced heating and cooling technicians, and the same for your home. Consider a BPI accredited contractor that will look at your home as a system and help you prepare for the coming season making it healthier, safer and more energy efficient.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:air conditioning, boiler, clean and tune, comfort, energy-efficiency, fall, furnace, home energy, oil prices, tune-up
Posted in Air Conditioning, Boilers, Efficiency, Electricity Use, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Furnaces, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Oil / Coal / Natural Gas | Leave a Comment »
November 7, 2012
Housing is near and dear to us here at GreenHomes, and even closer is safe housing. Hurricane Sandy has significantly changed what many have taken for granted just as we go into colder weather in the Northeast. Tens of thousands have found themselves without a home because of the storm. Many more have found themselves with extensive damage to their homes and a long struggle to recover.
There are many ways to support efforts to support those affected, the Red Cross is collecting donations, and Feeding America has been working to provide food and water for example.
It is also important to keep in mind how to stay safe as people return to their homes. The CDC has some useful information about what to look for when coming home to water damage, the dangers of electrical issues, and mold. For many our homes are no longer the safe havens they once were.
Losing power means often means relying on a generator, which is a great concern since they are one of the leading reasons for CO poisoning. I often preach about the importance of checking heating and cooking equipment, having a CO alarm in your home, but when all goes wrong and we need a generator just to get by, it is even more important to make sure it will be helping not harming us.
The dangers of unvented fireplaces also true for generators in your home or garage. A garage or enclosed porch may be more connected to your home than you think. When using a generator; always make sure there is enough fresh air to dilute any of the exhaust fumes. Keep them out of your homes!
Help the people in need; stay safe please, no matter where you are!
Thanks,
Jason
Photo of the New Jersey coast from the National Guard
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Tags:carbon monoxide, CO, Feeding America, Health and Saftey, Hurricane Sandy, mold, New Jersey, New York, Red Cross, Storm, water damage
Posted in Environment, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Homeowners, Insulation, News | Leave a Comment »
November 5, 2012
It’s nice to be recognized. This is the third year in a row in fact. The EPA and the DOE have recognized GreenHomes America – Syracuse with the Century Club Award. An award that goes to the contractor that has improved the energy efficiency of more than 100 homes in the past year through Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR offers homeowners a comprehensive whole house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort while saving money on utility bills and helping to protect the environment.
Our Syracuse location, a leading contractor in central New York and part of the national GreenHomes America network, improved well over 400 homes last year!
Congratulations to Syracuse! It is great to know that as a network we are charging along across the country in states that participate in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program as well as states that don’t. Look for a GreenHomes America location near you!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:award, Century Club, comfort, Department of Energy, DOE, energy, environment, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, GreenHomes America, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, homeowner, improving energy efficiency, New York, Syracuse
Posted in Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners, News, Utility Bills | Leave a Comment »
A fairly comprehensive list of ailments sufferable from your very own home was posted in this article.
