Indoor Air Quality
Why be concerned?
The air we breathe in our indoor environment can affect every occupant in the home. The concern about indoor air quality has risen dramatically over the last decade to where it is now established as a major environmental concern and identified as a source of minor and major health problems.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 2001 National Health Interview Study, over 7.6 million children (5-17 years) and over 12.7 million young adults (18-44 years) suffer from asthma. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers to the public. EPA research also concluded that indoor air can be two to give times (and sometimes as much as 100 times!) more polluted than the WORST outside air! Since research indicates Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, it's no wonder that asthma and allergy suffering is on the rise.
Allergens, Particulates and Toxins... Oh My!
When we talk about Indoor Air Quality there are basically three categories of infectious agents that need to be addressed by your system.
- Allergens and Particulates: Controlled by high-quality filtration. 22% of breakdowns on systems with a one-inch filter are due to clogging of the filter... they get dirty and stop filtering! So the allergens are left floating through the air. Allergens that could be causing problems such as nose and throat irritation, coughing and wheezing, asthma flare-ups, congestion, just to name a few.
- Infectious Agents: Controlled by Ultraviolet Germicidal (UVC) light. These agents can cause bacterial and viral infections such as Sinusitis, Throat and Ear Infections, Pneumonia, and others.
- Toxic Compounds: Controlled by Ultraviolet Germicidal (UVC) with Ozone (UVV) light. These compounds include mold toxins, Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, Pesticides. They can cause headaches, memory lapse, lethargy, depression and other ailments.
What can be done?
There are many products on the market today that will work with your existing home comfort system to provide unmatched filtration and purity.
Our indoor air quality trained professional Comfort Advisors can introduce you to an arsenal of high-efficiency 21st century pollution-fighting systems!
- Filters designed to capture 99% of the airborne allergens and particulates in your home
- Air enrichment and UV germicidal systems designed to rid your home of odors while controlling the pathogenic toxins in your air
- Filters with efficiencies from 15 times to 12,000 times greater than your supermarket or "big box" retailer throw-away!
We have comfort advisors standing by that would be happy to visit your home for a free Indoor Air Quality analysis. They can answer any questions about what would be best for you and what options would best fit your family's needs.
Call us today at 408-649-2008.
Or visit Nature's Home, and browse through some excellent products. To learn more about solutions to each of the danger levels mentioned at left, click on the images below. The links will take to to specific areas of Nature's Home website.
What is the cause?
- Why is the air in our homes and buildings such a problem? Over the years, buildings have been made more airtight to help conserve energy. Every effort has been made to keep our heated or cooled air inside. We install storm doors and windows; extra insulation; apply caulk and weather stripping to seal cracks and openings; and limit the amount of outside air coming in. While these practices have been successful from an energy conservation standpoint, they also limit the amount of polluted air that can escape or be diluted, allowing indoor air pollutants to build up to unhealthy levels.
- As well as the reduction in air leakage over the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of synthetic and composite materials being used during construction, renovation and furnishing of dwellings. When used, many of these materials introduce new chemical pollutants into the home, and when combined with a lack of natural ventilation, can mean that a multitude of different pollutants can reach concentrations where they become hazardous to the occupants.
- Based on studies by the EPA, billions of dollars are spent annually for medication to help Americans breathe or cure their respiratory illnesses. It is estimated that almost 43 million Americans have hay fever, allergies or asthma. Every year at least 6,000 new chemical compounds are developed. Many are used indoors every day, at home and at work. Add to these pollutants the mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, grease, pollen, dirt, asbestos, lead and numerous other contaminants that can affect our breathing and our health. Then allow them to circulate in our nearly airtight indoor environment. No wonder our indoor air is, on average, two to five times (and sometimes as much as 100 times!) as polluted as the worst outdoor air
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| Filtration | Germicidal | Oxidation | Humidification |