What do you think of when you hear the words "green living" and think "creating a healthy home?" As an interior architect / designer and former respiratory therapist, I think of ways to improve the air quality inside and outside, and the promotion of energy efficiency. In your home, affect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) gases, the quality of your home environment and your health.
Outside our homes, greenhouse gases affect the environment and the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Both indoor and outdoor air of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulated through public education and by laws and regulations. In this article we will discuss some of the ways you can improve the quality of indoor air in your home, therefore creating a healthy home and can improve your overall health. We are also the energy efficiency and environmental impact have on the world. At the end of the article, I will include a resource list where you about green living and how you can learn a healthy home more.
Green Living and Healthy Start Did you know that air pollution is 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors due to the closed spaces? Many of our products can emit VOC household gases in the air that you breathe. VOC gases can cause headaches, sneezing, breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. VOC gases are found in carpets, floor coverings, adhesives, paints, particleboard, stains and finishes. When selecting products for your home, here are some healthy alternatives:
Look for wood products, which are marked the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These products from certified managed forests. FSC members use the concepts of "responsible forest management and conservation" on issues such as illegal logging, deforestation and global warming.
Worked or use recycled wood. Many of these pieces are transformed into the use of entrance doors, dining room or coffee tables.
When choosing flooring, consider natural resources such as bamboo flooring, which comes from fast-growing grass or reclaimed / scrap wood. Use soils with low VOC finishes.
Use low or zero VOC paints such as Sherwin Williams Harmony (0 VOC), Benjamin Moore Aura (low-VOC) or Yolo Color House color (my favorite because of 0 VOC, non-toxic, low odor eco friendly paints).
Good decisions are floor linoleum, cork or natural stones.
If you need to use glue, choose a low VOC glue.
Choose formaldehyde-free cabinets and countertops.
Other good options are recycled glass or ceramic. Many VOC gases in your home textiles such as upholstery and carpets absorbed. Try to avoid carpets in warmer climates and upholstery cleaning often. In fact, it is recommended by the American Lung Association (ALA), that you suck your house 1 day per week for each resident in the house, including pets. The ALA is a big proponent of healthy living and has built "health houses" to promote throughout the nation to materials and products that are environmentally friendly.
A healthy start and a healthy bedroom We spend more than a third of our lives in our bedroom, so it is important to create a healthy living space bedroom. Some of the ways you can improve your air quality in the bedroom:
Do not allow animals to come into the bedroom. Animal hair can trigger asthma episodes.
Dust mites are tiny bugs (related to spiders) that live in bedding and carpets. They are one of the most common allergies and asthma triggers. They concentrate feed on flakes of shed human skin. Their lifespan is 10-19 days. Regular washing and vacuuming can keep these critters to a minimum.
Dust often. Most of your dust contains dust mites skin and feces.
Anti-mite mattress recommended. Or add your mattress in a tightly woven cotton encasement to prevent mites from reaching your skin.
Use organic insecticide cotton sheets.
Wash bedding in hot water every two weeks.
Use hard curtains.
Buying a portable air purifier with a washable filter (I like the Honeywell Model HPD-010th It has a 4 1/2 stars on Amazon.com)
Eliminate the use of carpet or rug made from recycled materials (such as PET bottles).
Green Living - Cleaning and Laundry Products Many cleaners also have an impact on the quality of indoor air in our home and create a "smog" of VOCs. Enclosed spaces allow VOC gases build up and a mixture of chemicals in the air. By changing your detergent, promote a green living environment with improved air quality and low VOC. Some of the changes you can make are:
Use fragrance-free products. Fragrances are common triggers for allergies.
Read the labels for eco-friendly ingredients.
Use grain alcohol vs isopropyl alcohol. Grain alcohol is a natural product, where isopropyl alcohol is derived from fossil fuels.
Switch to natural cleaning products. Vinegar cleans stone and glass. Mirror for use vinegar with water. With lemon juice to remove stains from fabric. Use mineral oil for furniture polish. Baking soda cleans and polishes metal and plastic.
Natural Detergent - Make your own with 1 bar of shaving soap (such as Ivory), 1 C Borax 1 C Arm & Hammer washing soda.
Avoid toxic ingredients: petroleum and formaldehyde.
3,000 tons of paper towels to be sent to landfill. Use rags instead. They are recyclable and can save you money.
Save money on hand sanitizer. The FDA has determined that regular soap and water are good anti-bacterial agents.
Green Living Including conservation of natural resources Another important area in green living is to preserve our natural resources by using less water, energy and produce less waste in our landfills. Here are some easy ways you can conserve cost and save money:
How to burn your light bulbs to energy efficient CFL light bulbs to change. You can about $ 400/year.
With low-flow faucets and shower heads to save 50% of your water.
Use programmable thermostats to reduce energy consumption.
Insulate your hot water heater or a water heater that heats as necessary. Change your water heater to 120 degrees and save up to 15% per month.
Toilets use 45% of the domestic water supply. Switch to low toilets that use less than 1.5 gal / flush.
Using solar powered LED accent lights for your walkway.
After turning on the computer, you can use an estimated $ 186/year and reduce the carbon dioxide in the air....
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