HOME SWEET HEALTHY HOMEPublication: The Sunday Gazette We focus a lot of attention on the quality of the air we breathe outside. But considering that we spend an estimated 90 percent of our time inside, indoor air quality warrants a look, especially because we close our homes up tight for several months of the year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, primary causes of poor indoor air quality are sources of pollution that release gases or particles into the air. These include heating material, such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal and wood, as well as tobacco, building materials and furniture, wet or damp carpet and insulation, heating, cooling and humidifying systems and household cleaning products. "A lot of folks don't understand that some of the products that they bring into the home, like furniture, paint and cleaning products, can emit pollutants," said Peter Iwanowicz, chief policy officer for the American Lung Association of New York State in Albany. "Especially new furniture that's upholstered or rugs that are treated. They off-gas for a significant amount of time and can be a source of pollutants inside," he said. VENTILATION MATTERS How well a home is ventilated also factors into the quality of the air inside. While tight, energy-efficient homes are good, those that are too tight can be hazardous. Poor indoor air quality can contribute to asthma attacks or make breathing difficult for those with lung problems, Iwanowicz said. Longtime exposure to some toxins, such as radon, can cause lung cancer. In 1994, the American Lung Association built a "Health House" to demonstrate the building techniques and products that improve indoor air quality. "It began as a one-time home project in Minnesota that quickly expanded and became a national educational program," said Robert Moffitt, communications director for the ALA Health House Program in St. Paul. In 2003, the ALA partnered with Honeywell Home and Environmental Control Solutions and 3M to provide education for both consumers and home builders. Moffitt points out that this is an issue that can be addressed by owners of existing homes, not just those who are building new ones. Part of this outreach includes builder training. During an intensive two-day program, builders learn about basic building science, site considerations, the building envelope, mechanical equipment, air distribution, finishes and furnishings as they relate to improving the environment inside a house. The training is the first step in becoming registered as an ALA Health House builder. In addition, a builder has to build a house according to the program guidelines and pass three inspections, two while the house is under construction, and one after it has been finished. Frank Laskey, president of Capital Construction in Ballston Spa, is the only registered Health House builder in New York state. The house he built to earn this certification is a Wilton showcase home that he completed last year. A second builder, in Poughkeepsie, is in the process of becoming registered. Laskey learned about the program when he was doing research on green and sustainable building techniques. He thought that the health home standards go hand in hand with the mission of green building, so he decided to take the training. "It's basically common sense when you learn about it," Laskey said. The health house guidelines, in addition to setting the house up for good indoor air quality, also help it last longer. GUIDELINE AREAS The guidelines have several areas. One has to do with how the house is built. "That relates to controlling moisture in the house and shedding moisture away from the house so that you don't create an environment where mold and fungus can thrive," Laskey said. Structural problems, such as perennially damp basements or a leaky roof that allows water to get into the walls, can lead to indoor air problems, Iwanowicz said. Components of moisture control include waterproofing the foundation, not with the traditional petroleum-based tar product but with a rubber membrane that is water-soluble and will not have an adverse impact on groundwater conditions. Large overhangs on the eaves help to shed water away from the
structure. Flashing rough opening of doors and windows with a
flexible elastic membrane prevents leaking water from getting to the
framing materials. "That's usually the number one failure in new
home construction," Laskey said. Building code requires that before a builder puts up sheetrock, he install a vapor barrier on the inside of the walls. Health Home builders use a product called "Membrain," a 6-mm polyethylene sheeting that senses moisture levels in the house and the walls. Pores in the product close up if there is excess moisture in the air so that it does not get trapped inside the walls of the house and provide a moist area where mold might grow. Laskey said that the installation of this product adds about $500 to the cost of building a home. LUNGS OF HOUSE An important mechanical component and requirement of a certified Health House is an energy recovery ventilation system, or ERV. "This is essentially the lungs of the house. It takes stale air, dumps it outside, brings in fresh filtered air and redistributes it through the house," Laskey said. The ERV runs continuously on a 75-watt motor. It also has an electronic filter to filter out dust, pollen and other allergens. This system runs from $2,300 to $2,400 to install. Also required for Health House registration is a central vacuum system that exhausts air to the outside. A third requirement is that the house be made of materials that don't release gases. The building materials -- including plywood, paints and finishes -- must be free from or low in volatile organic compounds. VOCs, including the formaldehyde-based glues in regular commercial plywood, typically out-gas for five years. Plywood used in a Health Home, by contrast, is made with wax and resins and doesn't release toxic gases. Another benefit is that the plywood doesn't absorb moisture and is more durable than traditional plywood, Laskey said. The ALA discourages the use of carpeting because it collects various allergens such as dust and mites. Moffitt said that hard surfaces are encouraged wherever possible to help prevent the buildup of dust and other allergens. DETACHED GARAGE A physical aspect of the guidelines is having a detached garage to keep carbon monoxide from entering the house. "That works well in warmer climates, but I'm not sure how ideal it is in this climate," Laskey said. Alternatives are installing an exhaust vent that runs for 15
minutes after a car has started or been turned off, or building a
breezeway from the garage to the home, an option that Laskey likes. Iwanowicz said that the ALA can provide basic, simple information for homeowners who want to explore the existence of potential pollutants in their homes. If they have unexplained health issues, they might want to hire a certified industrial hygienist who can assess their home and determine the source of any pollutants. For more information, visit www.healthhouse.org or call 1-800-LUNG-USA. Identifying pollutants in your home.
Source: For The Sunday Gazette  
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