Breathe Easy

Building a green home or making energy-efficient improvements on an existing home is an eco-conscious trend that continues to grow in popularity. But it has to be done right.

“A tight home doesn't have as much air infiltration, so if people don't understand what they are doing when building an energy-efficient home, they can actually cause the indoor air quality to worsen,” says Ken Riead, senior certified energy manager and senior consultant at Hathmore Technologies in Independence.

Sources of indoor air pollution can include carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust mites, pet dander and more.

“Everything that is in or on a home tends to degrade over time, and as it does, it will out-gas and release chemicals into the air,” Ken says. “The tighter you make your environment, the more these irritants can be a problem.”

While some residents might not detect what is in the air, others who suffer from allergies or asthma may experience worsened symptoms.

“More people are becoming aware that we do have air quality issues in our homes, and so they are trying to find ways to keep their homes cleaner, increase ventilation and purify the air,” says Sarah DeGondea, owner of Plugged In, a central vacuum installation company in Raymore.

Here are a few ways to do so:

Use nontoxic materials. Safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials are now more widely available to consumers. One common switch is using paints, stains and glues with a low or no amount of VOCs, which release chemicals into the air years after drying.

Install a high-quality air filter. An air filter is a simple and inexpensive way to instantly improve indoor air quality. When selecting an air filter, look at the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating.

“The higher the MERV rating, the better the air quality,” says Debbie Harrington, office manager at Harrington Bros., a heating and cooling company in Shawnee. “A MERV 16 filter is more than 90-percent efficient at removing pollen, dust, pet dander, dust mites, viruses, bacteria, mold spores and fungi.”

While a higher MERV rating is better, Debbie cautions against using too thick of an air filter. “If an air filter is very dense and full of dirt, the air conditioner or furnace system won't be able to circulate and ventilate the air as well,” she says.

She suggests using a filter with a MERV rating of 13 or 14, and changing the air filter at least monthly for the best air quality. A thicker space guard is the next alternative for an air filter, and it only has to be changed once a year.

“A space guard is good if you smoke or have pets, and it filters out very tiny particles through a very tiny filter,” Debbie adds.

Install an air quality system. A home air purification system is an optional addition to an existing heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system. An air purification system, such as the PureAir system from Lennox, contains a high-quality air filter, ultraviolet (UVA) lights and a metal air filter called a catalyst.

“The UVA lights kill additional bacteria and organic compounds that the filter can't catch,” Debbie notes. The Lennox PureAir System costs approximately $1,500 to install.

Use a ventilation system. A few additional ways to improve air ventilation inside a home are a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV). These ventilators exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air without wasting energy. Both HRVs and ERVs use the existing HVAC system in the home or a specially installed duct.
 
“HRVs and ERVs are ideal for whole-house ventilation. They are similar to an individual room unit, but they don't move the air as fast,” Ken says. Very tight, energy-efficient homes can benefit from an HRV or ERV to increase air ventilation.

A freestanding electronic air cleaner or HEPA filter is another way to add targeted filtration to specific areas of a home.

Install a central vacuum system. To maintain a higher indoor air quality, opt for a central vacuum system, which consists of a system of connected outlets and central canister unit located in the garage or furnace room. Attachments, such as a hose or broom, are plugged into the outlets.

“Because a central vacuum system has more suction and offers higher filtration than a typical upright vacuum, it removes 100 percent of dirt, dust mites, pollen, dander and other allergens,” Sarah says. “All vacuums have to circulate and exhaust air to create suction, and with a central system, you aren't stirring up the dust and dirt back into the air — it is all being sucked to one central place.”

And with greater suction, the central vacuum attachments can reach deep down into the base of the carpet to pick up trapped dust mites, pollen and pet dander.

Make small changes for a big difference. While there are many big changes you can make to improve the indoor air quality of your home, there are a few small changes that can make a difference, too.

“Trust your sense of smell. Always check something new before you bring it into your home. Carpet, new furniture and other items can contain or give off chemicals,” Ken notes.

He also suggests caulking around windows and doors, putting safety plugs into outlets and gaskets behind lights to keep dust down, and cleaning carpets regularly.

Build your home to higher standards. There are guidelines available for homeowners who want to make indoor air quality a priority when building a new home. The Environmental Protection Agency offers the Indoor AirPLUS certification for homebuilders who follow their construction specifications, and the Lung Association compiled a set of building requirements to qualify a home as a Health House. A Health House is designed to be healthy, safe, durable and energy-efficient.

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2010 issue of Kansas City Homes & Gardens.