Some Greening Tips from Earthbound Eco-Renovations

February 8, 2010 · Filed under Green Guelph

Hi friends!

This is the second in a series of bulletins that Earthbound Eco-Renovations has sent me with some tips on how to lessen the impact that your home has on this lovely planet of ours.

An eco-renovation offers you the opportunity to make improvements to your home or business in a manner that protects the health of all the occupants, improves water and energy efficiency, pays attention to the global impacts of material choices, uses resources efficiently, saves you money, and allows you to take pride in your home and the difference you are making.  I can tackle almost any kind of renovation, or can come in for a consultation about how you might make your home a greener place.

A plug for energy audits.
Whether you’re thinking of a renovation or just want to seal up that leaky old house, consider hiring a qualified energy auditor, licensed under the EcoENERGY retrofit program to help you make informed decisions, and prioritize what improvements will give you the biggest payback.  Rebates of up to $10,000 are available on upgrades to your heating and ventilation systems, insulation, air sealing, energy and water efficient appliances, doors, windows and more.

According to Natural Resources Canada’s ecoENERGY program, by implementing the audit recommendations, the average homeowner can yield:

• 30% reduction in annual energy use;
• 4 tonnes reduction in greenhouse gas emission; and
• $700 a year in savings on the annual heating bill

The Green Home Files – Issue #2 – Indoor Air Quality

As Canadians, we spend close to 90% of our time inside; at home, at work and in recreational environments. Most people, however, are unaware of the effects that poor indoor air quality can have on their health.  Poor indoor air quality can lead to headaches, ear, nose, throat, lung and skin irritations, learning impairment, reduced productivity and in extreme cases, serious illness or death.

Indoor air quality can be affected by biological contaminants (mold, bacteria, pollen, dust mites), gases (carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), chemicals (cleaners, paints, adhesives, formaldehyde, pesticides), particulates (asbestos, dust, allergens), and even the electromagnetic fields produced by electric power-consuming devices.

Here’s a look at some of the more common indoor air pollutants and how you can eliminate them from your home:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

VOC’s are gases that waft into the air from a wide range of products found around the home; for instance, paints, lacquers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, glues, permanent markers, office equipment such as copiers and printers, and many building products such as particle board in your kitchen cabinets and other furniture, plywood, shelving, panelling, carpet, rubber mats, and vinyl in shower curtains, wall coverings or other products.  There are a vast array of health complications that can result from inhaling these compounds on a daily basis, not to mention what they do for smog and the ozone layer.  Remove these products from your home where possible, and when considering a renovation, look for building products that are free of formaldehyde, PVC, and other toxics.

Government regulations are forcing paint manufacturers to reduce the amount of VOC’s in paint, though care needs to be taken as these regulations only affect the base paint.  The tints that most manufacturers use to add your colour selection to the paint still contain VOC’s and essentially defeat the purpose of selecting low VOC paints.  Benjamin Moore is currently the only manufacturer in Canada that offers VOC free tints.

Mold

Mold and mildew indicate moisture build-up and/or a lack of proper ventilation to remove excess humidity.  Check relative humidity levels in your home with a hygrometer (available at hardware stores).  Recommended indoor humidity levels during the heating season are 30-50%, and even lower in colder weather to prevent window condensation. Clean mold with a solution of bleach or commercially available Concrobium cleaner.  Make sure exhaust fans are used in the bathroom and kitchen and that they are vented properly to the outside.  A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is the best whole house solution to ensure proper ventilation and save energy too.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally occurring in soil, and is known to cause lung cancer.  It leaks into your basement through cracks in the foundation.  Check your basement floor and walls for cracks and have them sealed up.  Testing to see if radon is an issue in your home is relatively easy and inexpensive.

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO

Air Sealing

Air sealing not only saves heat from leaking out, but also prevents outdoor pollutants and allergy inducing spores from getting in.  When you seal your house up tight though, make sure you’ve got good ventilation system with a good filter to ensure a constant supply of fresh healthy air.

Avoid The Smell

Most of us know about the noxious chemicals in many standard household cleaners, but don’t forget about the questionable chemicals used to scent many of our personal care products, and keep our house smelling “fresh and clean”.  Disinfectants, plug-in air fresheners, detergents, fabric softeners, anti-bacterial soaps, mothballs, and soil-repellent treatments on carpets and upholstery all leave residual chemical odours that aren’t doing your lungs, skin and immune system any favours.  Look for biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, and scent-free products.  Don’t be fooled by the “all natural” labels either.  Labelling regulations in Canada don’t provide definitive limits on what can be labelled as “natural”.

Storage of Paints and Cleaning Products

Even though they may seem tightly sealed, toxic components in paint, varnish, strippers, heavy cleaning chemicals, etc. can still seep out and fill your home with dangerous fumes.  Take containers you don’t need to the Household Hazardous Waste depot, or other locales that reuse or recycle chemicals.  Store containers outside the home if possible, though paints and other liquids vulnerable to freezing will need to be kept warm.  Keep containers in an air tight cabinet, and never in the furnace room or near any gas burning appliances or combustible material.
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Earthbound Eco-Renovations
improving energy efficiency – green building materials – enviro-friendly paints – renovations
Zack Benson
benson.zack@gmail.com