NEWS:
Here is a recent article from SNAP North Toronto, written by one of our team members
Indoor Air Quality and Your Home
Saving You Money Through Energy Upgrades
Copyright, Village Energy 2007. Admin contact: popcultureca@yahoo.ca
The home is supposed to be a protective and nurturing place, but unrecognized pollutants can cause health problems – from headaches and nausea, to allergies, asthma, and cancer. For those who rely on loose home construction and open windows for ventilation, the colder months lead to worsening indoor air quality. The particleboard TV stand you got a deal on or your new drapes may be part of the problem. In this short article I will look at some of the ways we pollute our indoor air and what we can do about it.
Volatile Organic Compounds, and chief among them formaldehyde, enter the air from tobacco smoke and off-gassing from furnishings, adhesives, and paints. That ‘new product’ smell will be your first indication of a problem and there are electronic devices for measuring concentrations. You can avoid purchasing suspect items or remove them, and you can dilute VOCs with ventilation air. You can also make sure no one smokes in your home.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas resulting from the incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Household furnaces or boilers, gas and wood burning stoves, and fireplaces are all possible sources of CO. Electronic detectors are available for measurment, and risks can be reduced by annually cleaning furnaces, checking for exhaust leaks, and making sure your chimney is unobstructed.
Radon is recognized as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Formed by the decomposition of uranium in soil it is found throughout Canada. Radon enters the home through cracks and openings in foundations. Lab tests are available, and Family Safety Products makes the only EPA approved electronic detector. To remedy the situation, make sure your foundation is sealed, install traps on basement drains and sumps, create positive air pressure by adding ventilation air, and if necessary, install a radon sump pump.
Moulds form in areas where moisture accumulates – this could be due to exess humidity condensing around cold walls or windows, leaking pipes, infiltration through walls, and floods. Moulds are a mjor allergin and have been linked to the development of asthma. To rectify the problem repair sources of moisture entry, reduce household humidity, and seal exterior walls.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions at 416-559-8774 or pburke@villageenergy.ca.
Patrick Burke has researched and written on sustainability issues, and is President of Village Energy – a local energy saving and energy generation system integrator.
