Source: Burlington Free Press
By Eve Thorsen
Correspondent

How do you build an energy efficient house from scratch? That's the question Chris Granda and his wife, Bonitta Steuer, asked themselves when they decided to build their home in Richmond.

Granda is a senior project manager at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, a nonprofit organization that promotes efficient energy use. So when he and his wife explored building a family home for themselves and their two children Maddy, 9, and Nicholas, 5, he knew the approach he should to take.

Source Fashion Monitor Toronto

If you are looking to buy a new home air purifier, check our tips for help in making your decision.

Air purifiers become an essential component in many households today. Home air purifiers filter out allergy-provoking substances, including dust, odors and pollen. Home air purifiers are especially good when a person has a suppressed the human immune system, making the body more susceptible to infection.

"Understanding the bacterial environment is important for health," said Fox, professor of biology and biochemistry at University of Houston. "People often spend months in conditions that create a bacterial breeding ground."

Source Indystar.com

Indoor air can be up to five times as polluted as outdoor air, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports. With asthma and allergies on the rise, a clean home is important for reducing symptoms, said allergist Dr. John Winder.

Here are some tips from Winder and the people who make Oreck vacuum cleaners:

• Dust with vacuum tools instead of cloths, because cloths can spread dust. Don't ignore hard-to-reach spots such as moldings, drapes and the space under beds.

• Encase mattresses and pillows in allergen-protective covers, and vacuum mattresses and pillows regularly.

Sourse: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Here are a few important actions that can make a difference:

• Use radon-resistant construction techniques.
• Obtain a copy of the EPA booklet, Model Standards and Techniques for Control of Radon in New Residential Buildings, from your state radon office or health agency, your state homebuilders' association, or your EPA regional office. [You can also visit EPA's Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC)].
• Choose building materials and furnishings that will keep indoor air pollution to a minimum.

Sourse: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)

Source: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking.

Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; may contribute to heart disease. Specifically for children, increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections; build-up of fluid in the middle ear; increased severity and frequency of asthma episodes; decreased lung function.

Sourse: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

BIOLOGICALS

Sources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets.

Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems. Can cause asthma; humidifier fever; influenza and other infectious diseases.

Levels in Homes: Indoor levels of pollen and fungi are lower than outdoor levels (except where indoor sources of fungi are present). Indoor levels of dust mites are higher than outdoor levels.

Sourse: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.

How do you know whether a HEPA filter is really doing its job? When would you change the filter?

Q: How do you know whether a HEPA filter is really doing its job? When would you change the filter?
A: An air cleaner is a different product than for example, a heater or an air conditioner. With a heater or air conditioner, you feel heat or cool instantly. With an air cleaner users typically notice a decrease of allergic reactions or other symptoms over time - generally within 2-3 days of continuous use. Or they may notice they have less house dust (a mite allergen home) or they sleep better. Observing the filter also indicates the air cleaner is working, as the filter turns color as contaminants build up.

What is an air purifier?
Why are air purifiers needed?
What kind of technology is used in today's modern air purifiers?
What is HEPA?
What is a micron?
What is AHAM?
What is a CADR?
What is CFM?
How do negative ions work?
How do negative ions and ozone work?
What happens to the ionized particle once it falls to the ground?
Can an air purifier replace the need for asthma medication?

Q: What is an air purifier?
A: An Air Purifier is a device which aims to free air from contaminants. Various techniques are used to accomplish this which includes filters, adsorbents like charcoal, and electrostatic charges. People who suffer from asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems have the most to benefit. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Can you explain how an ozone generator (air purifier) works? Can ionizing actually clean the air? We recently purchased such a unit. Did we do the right thing?
What are the advantages of using a carbon filter rather than a cheaper electrostatic filter?
Why offer a UV lamp on an air purifier?
Can you explain what the difference the fan speed makes to the cleaning effectiveness of a machine?
Are there any benefits to using a room air cleaner as opposed to a central HEPA or electrostatic system?
We often get people who want to move an air cleaner from room to room during the week - one day one room and then move onto the next.