ECO LIFESTYLES: Improving your indoor air quality.

We are reminded almost daily that smog is a major problem. As news reports highlight pollution levels, we look around at the other commuters and see that the majority of cars on the road are transporting single occupants. On these and other days, we are often encouraged to play our part to alleviate the problem by carpooling, taking public transit or considering alternative transportation like walking and cycling. But while so many focus on outdoor air pollution, few realize that indoor air pollution is a major problem. In fact, the US EPA lists indoor air pollution among the top five risks to environmental health. Indoor air pollution, on average, is 2-5 times worse than outdoor air pollution and in the case of a new construction or renovation project it can be as much as 100 (even 1,000) times worse.

Considering Americans spend close to 90% of their time indoors – whether at home, the office, or at school – the quality of our indoor air can have a significant affect on our health and wellbeing. Poor air quality can trigger asthma, allergies, headaches, nausea, and other health symptoms that can make everyday life a challenge.

Sources of indoor pollutants are fairly commonplace in our homes. Possible contributors include second-hand tobacco smoke, pets, fireplaces, stoves/ovens, furnishing/finishes, and moisture/leaks. By controlling the sources of indoor contaminants, we can limit our exposure to mold, mildew, pet dander, particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals in our spaces.

Many people live with poor indoor air quality (IAQ) because they do not recognize the warning signs or are not able to identify the source of the problem. Good indicators that you may have IAQ problems include musty or chemical odors, visible leaks or water damage, and allergic reactions or other health-related symptoms, such as the ones listed above.

To avoid IAQ problems at home follow a few simple steps:

• Turn on hood fans when cooking to help expel fumes – Cooking, especially on a gas stove, releases chemicals that can contaminate the air, such as carbon monoxide. Use the fume hood fan when cooking and make sure it is vented directly outside the house.
• Turn on the exhaust fan when showering to limit moisture build up – Run the bath fan during showers to remove the heat and humidity. And keep the shower curtain or bathtub sliding door open after bathing to increase air circulation.
• Clean regularly to prevent dust, dirt and pet hair accumulation – A clean house is a healthy house. Everyday, dirt and dust accumulate in our home. We track it in on our feet and shed it from our clothes and skin. These particles can become airborne, contributing to the pollutants and biological contaminants in the air. Regular cleaning can help limit the problem.
• Maintain your HVAC filters as instructed – Check, clean or replace furnace and air filters regularly, at least every two months. Consider installing a “high efficiency particulate” (HEPA) filter.
• Install low emitting furniture and finishes – New or recently installed building materials and furnishings can emit VOCs. Look for products that are certified for low chemical emissions, and open windows when using paints, adhesives, sealants and other materials that tend to offgas during installation.
• Use cleaning products that do not emit chemicals into the air – Many products used to wash floors, countertops and windows can offgas chemicals. Avoid dangerous chemicals by selecting products that are certified for their levels of chemical emissions.
• Open windows to allow fresh air into your space – To achieve energy efficiency, we seal up our buildings and tend to keep our windows shut, trapping pollutants inside. From time to time, its good to open the windows to allow fresh air to move through our spaces and flush out any stale or polluted air.
• Choose indoor plants that are more efficient at cleaning the air. Surprisingly, there are some indoor plants that are more effective at ridding your house of indoor pollutants than others.

Freshen the Air in Your Home

Everybody wants a clean and great smelling home, which is why air fresheners are such hot selling items in hardware stores and supermarkets. Be careful though, commercial air fresheners are filled with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that put toxins into the air.

There are plenty of natural, healthy ways to keep the air that circulates in your home as fresh and sweet smelling as possible. Here are some tips and ideas:

Open the windows.

Assuming weather conditions and outdoor air quality permit it, just open the windows to optimize ventilation.

Sprinkle baking soda.

Baking soda absorbs odors. Sprinkle a small amount on stale carpets and vacuum. Or put a box of baking soda in your fridge to eliminate food smells.

Decorate your home with plants

Potted houseplants help take VOCs and carbon dioxide out of the air as shown by research done by Dr. Bill Wolverton for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (www.nasa.gov) Boston ferns are especially good for removing formaldehyde and the Peace Lily is ideal for reducing acetone.

Use aromatherapy.

Burning a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, lemon and verbena in a diffuser with hot water will do wonders for ‘cleansing the air’ and imparting a wonderfully natural fragrance. You can also make your own aromatherapy room spray by mixing 8-10 drops of essential oil(s) with 2 ounces of water filled in a spray bottle.

Top 10 Houseplants for Cleaner Air

Houseplants are our often-overlooked helpers in ridding the air of pollutants and toxins, counteracting outgassing and contributing to balanced internal humidity.

Find out which houseplants are our most effective allies in keeping your household air clean and pure. It is suggested that one plant should be allowed for approximately 10 square yards of floor space, assuming average ceiling heights of 8 to 9 feet. This means that you need two or three plants to contribute to good air quality in the average domestic living room of about 20 to 25 square yards.

Research has shown that these 10 plants are the most effective all-around in counteracting off gassed chemicals and contributing to balanced internal humidity.

Areca palm
Reed palm
Dwarf date palm
Boston fern
Janet Craig dracaena
English ivy
Australian sword fern
Peace Lily
Rubber plant
Weeping fig

Although many plants like light, they do not all have to be placed near windows. Many indoor plants originated in the dense shade of tropical forests and have a high rate of photosynthesis. These are ideal for the home and can be placed in darker corners. When positioning plants, try to strike a balance between light and ventilation because the effect of plants on indoor air pollution appears to be reduced if they are set in a draft.

These articles were reprinted from www.greenlivingideas.com

GLI Editors: Green Living Ideas provides ideas, tips, and information to help you improve the environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life: home energy, green building and remodeling, cars, food, waste recycling— and everything in between. GLI’s editorial voice is driven by founder Sean Daily, and written by an amazing staff of author and interns.