~IAQ~ INdoor Air Quality

Does anyone in your family have allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions?

My Adult Daughter has asthma.  When she comes over to visit, she usually leaves affected by the indoor air quality of our home.  We have several indoor domestic animals.  Certainly, we try to help offset this by changing the filter on the furnace monthly, sweeping and vacuuming regularly and opening windows to allow fresh air to circulate.  Even with all of our efforts the air quality of our home is still contaminated.  Our neighbors had three cats primarily indoors, their youngest daughter continually got sick with one condition after another.  Concerned, they her tested for allergies and found out that she is seriously allergic to the dander of cats.  They ended up having to move the cats outdoors.  Recently, I was talking with Silva Riddle, owner of Cavaliar ~ a local Radon Mitigation Company in Spokane.   She was sharing a story with me about a woman who was diagnosed with lung cancer due to what she believes was caused by indoor exposure to Radon Gas in her home.

Did you know? That According to the U.S. EPA, one of the Top 5 Threats to Human Health is “sick buildings.”  The EPA has found that indoor air is typically between 2 to 5 times more contaminated than outdoor air.  In some cases, indoor air can be 100 times more contaminated.  Some of the immediate health symptoms from indoor air pollution are headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.  Health effects of poor indoor air quality often appear as allergy or asthma symptoms. Do you know? There’s a common misconception that a well-sealed home will lead to poor indoor air quality.

Ask the guys at Greenstone Homes and they’ll say; “Seal it Tight, Ventilated it Right!”  A properly-designed ventilation system in a well-sealed home can actually help control moisture and pollutants, save energy, and provide a comfortable indoor environment.

IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Professionals look at several aspects to your homes environment during inspections.

· What are the indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air? Some common sources:  Combustion gasses, Building materials and furnishings (off gassing), asbestos containing insulation, wet or damp carpeting, pressed wood products, household cleaning and maintenance projects, air fresheners, central heating and cooling systems, humidification devices, and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides and pollution.

· High temperatures and humidity can increase concentrations of some pollutants.

If you are interested in testing there are self-test kits to full evaluations by IAQ Professionals.  Testing for molds, allergens, bacteria, aldehydes, VOC’s, pesticides, Radon, and other pollutants. The Good News: Most IAQ problems can be resolved.

Get Familiar with Industry Jargon: Exchange rate: the rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air.  The measurement most commonly heard in the industry is “air changes per hour.” This is an indication of the extent to which air moves though a building over time.

Indoor Air Quality has value and should be articulated as a positive selling point!

So…SPOKANE, as you are tightening up your homes to reap the advantages in energy savings and comfort, be sure to consider with your Professionals that your entire indoor air quality is addressed in these retrofits.  Be sure to Praise the Value and Benefits! We want a Healthy, Wealthy and more Sustainable Community…..pass it on!

If you’d like a FREE CFL Light Bulb…come by tomorrow night at 7:00pm Thursday, April 29th, 2010. Spokane Valley Library ….bring me a 100 WATT incandescent and get a FREE CFL Light Bulb. *compliments of LandsCouncil.org, Avista and EWCEC.org

Thank you to some of my References: US EPA, National Association of Realtors & ECO-Broker International. Want to learn more; go to: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/