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Tips for Building "Green" - Indoor Air Quality
The vast amount of information available about building green can be overwhelming. To assist our customers in making environmentally sensitive decisions while building their new home, Donald A. Gardner Architects has compiled this handy FREE guide to building green.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air is two to five times more polluted that outdoor air on average (per Environmental Protection Agency).
VOC’s – Volatile Organic Compounds are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. These vapors can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Formaldehyde is a chemical compound used in various household items. New carpet emits VOC’s -- air out new carpet for two days before installing in your home. Furniture, wall covering, paint, varnish, finishing sealing solvents and many other household items also emit VOC’s. As a green alternative, choose products with low VOC’s or no VOC’s.
Avoid chemical treatments for insects, termites, etc. Use sand or stainless steel screen barriers around and in the foundation as a permanent solution for termite control. Use a natural brine solution spray on the frame of the structure as insect repellant.
Consider keeping indoor plants. They absorb airborne pollutants that you breathe, by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and purifying the air.

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