Clear the Air: Healthy Design How-To's
For decades clean-air advocates focused on outdoor air quality and its impact on our health. Yet indoor air toxins pose a more immediate and consistent threat to you and your family’s health than general air pollution. So then, why isn’t indoor air quality talked about more?
The American Lung Association established May as Clean Air Month to bring attention to the negative health effects of polluted air. Historically, the emphasis has been on the damage air pollution created by massive industries like coal and gas, can cause to our lungs. However, in recent years, there has been a shift in thinking of ways to keep the air inside your home clean and safe for you and your family.
This renewed focus on indoor air purity can guide you as you plan your next design project. When you begin any renovation or remodel, consider the ways you may be affecting the air quality during your project. Find out below how you can create, maintain and ensure healthy, clean air in your home throughout the year.
1. choose safe building materials
When you’re considering a serious remodel or renovation project on your home, be sure and consider the indoor air. It’s important to understand how the choices you - or the construction contractors you’re working with - make will have an impact on the air quality in your home. With this in mind, do careful research on each building material used. This way you understand the risks associated with them.
The American Lung Association has a few pointers that give you materials to keep in mind. They recommend observing the following tips to ensure clean air during and after construction projects:
Follow recommendations to keep radon out of your home.
Ensure dirty air and moisture can get out of your home during renovations.
Use building materials free of formaldehyde and formaldehyde resins.
Be aware of any asbestos products present in building materials made before 1980, including floor tiles, paint and insulation.
In many cases experts in asbestos abatement and radon detecting may need to be brought in to provide additional expertise to typical construction contractors. Typically contractors will recommend individuals they’ve worked with in the past but don’t be afraid to seek out your own experts who may have your priorities in the front of their minds.
2. plan for external factors
The American Lung Association also recommends considering climate when remodeling. In more humid climates like the southern United States, moisture in the air can increase the chance that building materials will degrade. In all climates it’s important to keep water out of the building during construction to prevent mold growth. Mold spores can circulate in the air and have been tied to increased instances of respiratory difficulty like asthma and colds.
It’s also important to consider the values and experiences of your contractors when remodeling your family’s home. Some contractors are focused on completing jobs as quickly as possible while some are more concerned with keeping budgets in check. When renovating with clean air in mind, seek out contractors who prioritize safe job sites, green practices, and maintaining the health of their crews and your family as they work on your home renovation projects. Having reliable experts working on your project will not only guarantee a smooth renovation but will also guarantee clean air during the duration of construction.
3. furnish with eco-friendly textiles
While it’s harder to control air quality after construction, it’s not impossible. Select eco-friendly materials that incorporate good design and ensure non-toxic spaces. This is one of the most effective - and budget-conscious - ways to ensure clean air quality in your home.
For example, traditional kitchen countertops materials can contain toxins that negatively affect indoor air quality. Instead, opt for eco-friendly and organic alternative materials such as recycled glass, recycled paper, reclaimed wood, and bamboo for your countertops.
Focusing on eco-friendly textiles can also reduce the eco-footprint of your entire project. By selecting materials that have the planet’s health in mind, you’re making sure that the environmental impact of your project is lessened. Plus, supporting green businesses ensures that companies will prioritize sourcing practices that are good for the planet.
4. stear clear of common allergies
Even if no one in your household has allergies at present, it’s wise to be proactive and design with allergens in mind. This way the indoor air quality is always clean and healthy for everyone to breathe.
Carpeting can hold onto pollutants and animal dandruff which can irritate common allergies. This can be especially true if family pets spend a lot of time on soft, carpeted surfaces. Instead, consider wood or tile floors that can easily be wiped down and kept dust free. You can ensure cozy spaces by incorporating floor rugs and even canvas floor coverings that have become popular in recent years.
The same method of focusing on clean-air materials can also be applied to fabric, furniture, curtains, and bedding. Avoid synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon in favor of organic cotton and organic wool. These promise fewer toxins in the air of your home. They can also help fight common allergens such as dust mites and mildew. These materials also leave a smaller carbon footprint during the manufacturing process, making your purchase a greener decision from all sides.
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In the midst of a major home remodel or renovation, it may be difficult to try and plan for the air quality in your home. However, it’s better to control variables that affect air quality during the planning and construction phases, rather than it is when the floors are in and the paint is dry. Plus, when it comes to creating the spaces you and your family will live in daily, air quality and safety become paramount.
Luckily you can ensure clean air by selecting eco-friendly and organic materials and managing risk factors during major projects. This way, your family has safe air to breathe easy during Clean Air Month and the rest of the year.
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