Energy Efficient Homes and Healthy Living

What does it mean to green your home? Well, it's not about buying indoor plants, although that's never a bad idea, according to Mindy Pennybacker.

Here are Mindy's top ten.

1) Become A Savvy Label Reader

The FDA does not regulate labeling for home cleaning products, detergents, paints or pesticides; they only regulate food products and drugs. Claims such as "Natural," "Eco-Friendly," "Environmentally Safe," and "Non-Toxic" are essentially meaningless. Look to the actual ingredients of a product. "Fragrance" as an ingredient is particularly suspect as most fragrances in cleaning products and air fresheners are synthetic. Synthetic fragrances contain phthalates which tend to disperse more readily, making them easy to breathe in. High levels of phthalates have been found in humans and they are known to cause hormone disruption. Studies on laboratory animals have linked phthalates with liver cancer. Also avoid purchasing products that say "Poison" or "Toxic" as they most certainly are—manufacturers do not use such labeling unless they absolutely have to.

2) Discard Synthetic Pesticides

Synthetic Pesticides refers to all manmade pesticides including indoor and outdoor herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Most synthetic pesticides contain organophosphates—a chemical family of nerve toxins. Some organophosphates have been banned from foods school children eat in certain areas of the US. Be sure to check the Green Guide Smart Shopper's Guide for the top 10 produce items to buy organic (because they have the highest pesticide levels in conventional forms). Check labels for chlorpyrifos/Dursban as it has recently been banned for residential use. A recent California study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that children exposed to higher levels of home pesticides had higher incidence of leukemia. Make a switch to natural pesticides. Here are some simple home-remedies and suggestions:

The Anti-Ant Recipe

Mix:
1 cup of borax (a natural mineral, found in the laundry detergent section of most markets)
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water

Pour mixture into jelly jars along with some facial tissue or toilet paper one inch from top. Make 4-8 holes in the metal lid. Place jars in areas you see ants.

Practical Suggestions

You'll find that you can control most pest problems by practicing cleanliness. In the kitchen, make sure there are no food residues left anywhere. Fix leaks, as pests are drawn to moisture. Remove clutter such as papers and magazines from desktops—get old stack of papers out of the house and common areas of buildings. Fill cracks and crevices (with a no-VOC sealant) as roaches particularly like areas where their backs and bellies are in contact with surfaces. Use boric acid in backs of shelves, cupboards or along floorboards if you have a bad infestation of cockroaches—but make sure it is not where children or pets can ingest it.

3) Switch to Natural Cleaning Products

Just as effective, and in most cases, less expensive, try making your own cleaning solutions at home. Have the following items on hand for simple solutions that work: white vinegar, baking soda, washing soda (found on the cleaning aisle at most markets), borax, any vegetable oil soap and salt. For cleansing cast-iron cookware, use salt and water. Switch to natural bleaches such as lemon juice and distilled water, or baking soda and lemon. Borax is an excellent substitute cleanser. Using gloves, just make a paste with washing soda or borax and scrub your sink clean! You can also buy non-chlorine cleansers at the market. Bon Ami is an excellent brand. 7th Generation and Ecover are two other brands that make effective natural cleaners; best of all, they list all the ingredients on the product so you know exactly what you are using (unlike commercial cleaning products). A great alternative to ammonia-based products used for the bathroom and glass, is white vinegar and water at a 50/50 ratio. And if mirrors have chemical buildup, just use a simple, plant-based soap (such as castile or peppermint) with white vinegar. Make use of essential oils as they are natural disinfectants. Finally for mold removal, find and eliminate the source of the moisture that allows it to grow. In the last ten years, many new, natural cleaning products have come on the market. Try some and find one you like.

4) Avoid Synthetic Air Fresheners

Make your own natural air fresheners. Make a potpourri of fresh lavender for the closet. It has a lovely scent and contains pest-repelling properties.

5) Buy Paints and Stains with No or Low "VOC"

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Chemicals. The California South Coast Air Quality Management Districts sets VOC limits for paints and stains labeled "low VOC" or "no VOC." If possible, choose paints and stains with no VOC. Avoid paints with petrochemicals, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene. They are all examples of VOC's and can cause watery, stinging eyes, dizziness, headaches and troubled breathing; many are also linked to cancer, nervous system damage and reproductive harm. Pregnant women should never paint and should not inhabit newly painted rooms until they've been well ventilated and dried—at least a week. Benjamin Moore—a mainstream manufacturer, makes very affordable paints and stains. There are many, many options to choose from. Check The Green Guide #96, for the months of December and January, access is free to all Healthy Living readers!

6) Avoid Carpeting (if possible), Choose More Natural Flooring

Carpets are a toxic soup! The glue used for installing carpets is very high in VOC's. For months after the installation of a new carpet, VOC's are emitted into the air. Cleaning products, dirt and smog settle in the carpet. Every time you walk across it, these particles get kicked into the air. Old carpets are filled with allergens—dust and dust mites. If you have a carpeted home, invest in a Hepa Filter vacuum cleaner. It's designed to pick up the most microscopic particles. For spotting, use water and vinegar. And for deodorizing—sprinkle baking soda and then vacuum. If you want the warmth of carpeting, use area rugs. Stay away from PVC vinyl. The vinyl softeners often contain phthalates. They evaporate into the air. Use more natural alternatives—natural linoleums, wood and tiled floors. These types of flooring are certainly more expensive, but one must also weigh the health and environmental costs of using a less expensive, synthetic alternative.

7) Choose Furniture Made with Natural Products

Much of the furniture manufactured in and for the US is made with polyurethane and contains cushioning with fire retardants also known as PBDE's (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). PBDEs account for 30% of the foam padding's weight. The retardants get into the air we breathe and are known to cause hormone disruption and inhibit fetal brain development in animals. The European Union has banned the use of the most toxic PBDEs. To avoid PBDEs, choose furniture made with natural fibers such as cotton, wool (no fire retardant is necessary for wool) or natural latex. Futon mattresses are a great alternative. Visit greenguide.com for more reports. Find out what is in your current furniture by contacting the manufacturer. You can reduce your exposure incrementally—you don't have to replace everything at once!

8) Make Energy Efficient Lighting, Window and Appliance Choices

Vinyl contains phthalates and and its production creates dioxins (one of the most toxic man-made substances)—avoid vinyl particularly with new windows. Use non-vinyl plastic instead. More carbon dioxide is emitted from the power generated to run inefficient appliances than cars each year. The EPA recommends using "Energy Star" appliances. An Energy Star refrigerator will save you 8% on your energy bill annually. Add solar panels to your home—it may be an investment, but it can pay off with incentives provided from your local utility company. Of course, there are energy-saving light bulbs you can purchase as well.

9) Control the Quality of Your Indoor Air with Proper Ventilation

Open your windows! The best way to clear indoor pollutants is to let fresh air circulate through your home. Also, be aware of plastics in the kitchen and use of them in the microwave. Polystyrene and Polycarbonate—two common plastics leach chemicals into food/liquids when heated. Be wary of using humidifiers—they do not purify the air, they merely add moisture and can actually pollute air with mold spores if one does not clean them regularly. Humidity can also be detrimental to asthmatics as humid air allows dust mites to thrive—their feces are a potent allergen and asthma trigger.

10) Use a water filter (if you need it!)

Your water utility bill should include an annual report of what's in your water. If it doesn't—find out. Inquire with your utility company or go to www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm. Or better yet, send a sample to the EPA for testing—you'll find instructions on their web site (www.epa.org). Once you discover what's in your water, you can determine if a water filter is necessary. Look for arsenic, pesticides or pathogens (pathogens are usually episodic). Water filters are better than bottled water, as plastic contains phthalates that increase over time. Britta makes an excellent carbon filter.