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Article posted on Indoor Air Quality Arizona Republic June 2, 2007 Click Web Link below:
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"partnering to build better energy efficient homes"
Rudek Construction Services Inc. is registered with the American Lung Association
To address the growing national concern about the quality of air in our homes, the American Lung Association of Minnesota introduced the Health House program in 1993. Since then, other local Lung Associations have introduced residential indoor air programs that will be incorporated into the new program. The Health House mission-to raise the standard for home environments-has been realized through consumer and builder education campaigns and a series of demonstration houses that model healthy building practices.
The Health House® project is a national education program created by the American Lung Association of Minnesota to raise the standards for better indoor environments www.healthhouse.org/index.asp
People in the United States spend 80 and 90% of their time indoors. This time is typically divided between home, school, and workplace. However in the cases of young children, the sick, or the elderly, they maybe just in one location for extended periods of time everyday-inside the home. Indoor levels of volatile chemicals are routinely measured at many times the level of the air outdoors. In fact, the atmosphere inside most houses is typically 5-10 time worse than the outdoor air, and the concentration of individual air pollutants can easily be 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. And because people spend so much time indoors, their actual exposure to chemicals found in the indoor air is generally 10-50 times greater than if they were continually exposed to outdoor air.
Energy Crisis-1970's When the world was hit with an energy crisis in the 1970's, millions of people, and builders added insulation and tightened up their houses, weatherization programs helped homeowners seal up many openings and cracks in their houses that air used to leak through. In order to save energy, we sealed ourselves inside our homes with no fresh air-if you think about it, we might as well have placed a plastic bag over our heads. Saving Energy is a good idea, and a tight construction is also a good idea. But fresh air is an even a better idea. And the good news is that all three can be combined into a Properly Designed Healthy House at a fraction of the cost. After all, space capsules and submarines are among the best insulated, tightest "houses" ever constructed, and the air quality in them is better than the air in many residents. That's because NASA and the Navy both use healthy materials. They also utilize exotic air-cleaning equipment, some which is beyond what the average homeowner can afford-but some of their technology now is reasonably priced. Now because of the technology advancement we have the opportunity to have Fresh Air and Low Energy Bills.
Mold Crisis-2000 Mold is a common allergen that can grow in many locations inside or outside the house. It can also be found thriving inside building cavities. Mold is a very common indoor contaminant, and a common cause of illness. They are actually a wide variety of biological contaminants that can cause ill health-viruses, bacteria, protozoa, algae, as well as fungi (mold, mildew, yeast, mushrooms, etc.). People can also be bothered by biological particulates released by plants (pollen), animals (dander), insects such as cock roaches, and arachnids like dust mites. Plus, there are are biological factors to considered in the health of a building-termites, carpenter ants (which these insects thrive on moisture) and decay organisms can all damaged the structure.
So how do we control Mold?
It's very simple No Moisture-No Mold!
To control moisture, we must control High Relative Humidity within the space! Most of the molds found in houses require a surface with an Relative Humidity of over 70% to grow. So our task is to figure out why moldy surfaces are surrounded by 70% of Relative Humidity. The most effective way to is to lower the Relative Humidity near the moldy surface. There are two ways of doing so. You can prevent moisture from getting to the surface, or you can raise the temperature of the surface, thus lowering the Relative Humidity next to the surface.
Mold growth does not require the presence of standing water, leaks, or floods; mold can grow when the relative humidity of the air is high. Mold can also grow in damp areas such as un-vented bathrooms and kitchens, crawl spaces, utility tunnels, gym areas and locker rooms, wet foundations, leaky roof areas, and damp basements.
Picture above is a perfect example of unconditioned space where the Relative Humidity the room below (acoustical ceiling) is 50%, but because condensation has formed on the roof metal joists, the temperature of the air close to the metal bar must be below the dew point (below 51ْ F). What's happening is this: The moisture from the air has condensed on the cold surface (metal ceiling joist). This is why moisture condenses on cold un-insulated windows in the window-the temperature of the microclimate next to the glass is below the dew point of the air in the room. In a simple term of weather conditions the temperature drops outdoors on a very humid day, the result can be rain the cool air can't hold as much moisture, so it simply unloads it in the form of a Shower!
House-Dust-Mites House-Dust-Mites allergens are a major cause of asthma. Wall to wall carpets, mattresses, and upholstered furniture are a major reservoir of mites. Laboratory dust mites indicate that their bodies continue to dehydrate when kept below 58% Relative Humidity. While dehydration does not lead to death, it reduces fecal and allergen production. Thorough vacuuming (once weekly with an upright having an allergen-trapping dust bag) should eliminate the food source for dust mites (human skin flakes), after they consume our human skin flakes they leave droppings everywhere they go. Their droppings contain left-over enzymes which the mites use to digest the skin dust. It is these enzymes which are the most important part of mite dust in causing asthma and other allergic diseases, and central dehumidification should control the Relative Humidity to below that required for dust mite mobility. As a result, new homes that are dehumidified and cleaned properly should have negligible dust-mite allergens and should not experience an increase in allergens.
Conclusion: A house is not simply a benign structure in which you relax, it's an active, enclosed system. And when you are inside it, you become and integral part of that system. If your house is like many being built in the U.S. today, it is composed of various individual components that contain toxic chemicals. Carpeting and flooring are chemically treated to render them stain resistant. Wall coverings are chemically treated with mold inhibitors. Particle board and Carpeting (which is loaded with formaldehyde), while paint accounts high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can have negative effect on both painters and homeowners especially infants, pregnant women, and the elderly. Nations like Germany, Canada, and Sweden and most of Europe are much more involved in promoting healthy building products and techniques. They have already learned that the ill health of their citizens is often related to housing.
The good news is that healthy buildings materials and practices are available.
Designing a building as a system is important for several reasons-comfort, energy efficient, quietness, and health. It doesn't require a great deal of thought, but it does require some preplanning, and a little effort of work between the builder and the owner.
We feel it's well worth it, because of its energy and healthy efficiency guidelines the house will be inspected and certified by the American Lung Association which is also will be easier to qualify for a mortgage.
It only takes a little more time, and planning to build a healthy home instead of one that will put you and your family at risk.
President, Juan Rudek
We welcome any comments or suggestions: E-mail:juan@rudekinc.com
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This web site is being enhanced and will updated periodically Please visit us again Soon!
E-mail:juan@rudekinc.com Web Design-Juan Rudek |
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