Greening your home: Start at the tap

(ARA) – In today’s environmentally conscious times, it seems we’re surrounded by the need to shop, act and live “green.”  Some of our choices are easy and small, while others can be big and costly.  But one thing is for sure – each choice can make a significant difference. Some of the most important green choices we can make are right within our own home, according to Kevin McJoynt at Danze, Inc. “Installing items like Energy Star appliances and energy-efficient windows is a great step in moving your home to be more green,” says McJoynt. “But changing your in-home water usage can have the most impact.” According to McJoynt, water shortages, energy demands and the cost of transporting water continue to rise. “Finding ways to simply reduce our usage without dramatically altering our lifestyle could save billions of gallons of water each year in the United States.” McJoynt offers up these tips on how you can immediately start conserving water (and save money) in your home:
  • Replace older toilets (1992 or earlier) with newer, high efficiency toilets (HETs).  They operate at 1.28 gallons per flush and could save 11 gallons of water per toilet per day.  Danze has several new HETs that outperform and are more stylish than many toilets found in current homes.
  • Be sure to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth – it could save nearly 3,000 gallons of water per year.
  • Update your bathrooms with newer WaterSense certified lavatory faucets,  According to the Environmental Protection Agency Waterense program, if every household in the U.S. installed these water-saving lavatory faucets, more than $350 million in water utility bills and more than 60 billion gallons of water annually would be saved, plus $600 million in energy costs for heating the water.
  • Always turn the water off between tasks.  Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.
  • Make sure to wash only full loads of laundry.  Using a high-efficiency washing mahine is ideal, as they use about 28 gallons of water per load, versus an average machine that uses 41 gallons.
  • Take a shower rather than a bath.  A full bath tub requires up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute show uses 10 to 25 gallons.  Want to be even more efficient? Switch your showerhead to a water-saving option.
  • We realize showers are a tricky one when it comes to saving water.  Homeowners want to make sure they have a well-performing shower experience,” says McJoynt.  “However, the EPA WaterSense program recently published standards for showerheads that consider both conservation and performance to build support of these water-saving units.  Be sure to look for the WaterSense certification mark.”
  • Fix those leaks.  Most leaky faucets can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year.
  • “Better design and engineering of many new bathroom products actually gives the user improved performance as well as efficiency,” adds McJoynt.  “Faucets, toilets and showerheads are great examples.  They’re just like other appliances that use less energy, but still work very well.” 
If all the water-saving green choices still have you overwhelmed, select one tip at a time and incorporate it into your home.  Looking for other tips?  Visit EPA’s Water Sense website.        

Is your home making you sick?

(ARA) – Your home- it’s your castle, your sanctuary.  But could the place you go to escape the rest of the world be bad for you?  Formaldehyde, chloroform and even asbestos could be in your home and you may not even know it. First, the good news,  “Today we’re designing houses that are green-friendly,” says Dan Lee, Interior Design instructor at The Art Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University, and the president of Lee Design Group. “Materials today have fewer chemicals and less carcinogenic substances.” But if you’re in an older house or did some remodeling or refurbishing on your own, there could be substances in your home that are bad for your health.  “There’s something called volatile organic compounds or VOCs,” says Kathleen Wakefield, Interior Design and Design & Technical Graphics program coordinator at The Art Institute of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute of Houston.  She adds, “They are emitted from certain solids and liquids like paint.” Wakefield says that short-term exposure to VOCs can cause nausea and irritation to the eyes, while long-term exposure could damage your kidneys and liver.  VOCs are also emitted from carpet foam made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  So Wakefield suggests that if you’r putting down carpet you stay elsewhere for a few weeks while the chemicals are being released,  And keep windows open if possible to air out the space more quickly and not trap the compounds in your home. Lee suggests you avoid carpet altogether. “Go with wood or natural stone floors over carpets and make sure you’re shopping for PVC-free floors,” he says. When adding a little color to your home, look for paints with low or no VOC emissions.  It should be right on the label.  According to Wakefield, federal limits for flat paint are 250 milligrams per liter, and 380 milligrams per liter for all other kinds,  California standards are more stringent – 100 milligrams per liter for flat paint and 150 milligrams per liter for all others. If you’re building your home from the ground up, consider using copper plumbing.  “Builders have gotten away from copper and switched to PVC,” says Lee, “but copper is a natural sterilizer.  If water sits in copper, it’s being sterilized.  In PVC, it’s growing something.” If your home was built in the ’70s, ’80s or ’90s, the press board used could contain formaldehyde, explains Lee.  And the plastic laminate in those homes was almost always glued and manufactutred with formaldehyde as well.  And if your home was built before the ’60s, the floor and wall coverings may contain asbestos gluing agents. If you’re careful about the materials you’re using in your home building and remodeling projects, make sure that caution extends to the household products you bring into your house as well, says Lee.  Many fabirc softeners actually contain chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane,  These are cancer-causing agents, warns Lee.  Also, make sure you’re using natural pesticides in the yard as well. Wakefield advises researching products on the internet before you go out and buy them.  She also advises hiring an interior designer that specializes in environmental and sustainable design for any home improvement and renovation projects you undertake.

Maryland takes lead in constructing energy efficient homes

A new development in Frederick, Maryland is aiming to double the number of Emerald rated homes, the highest certification for energy efficiency, in the country.

The 55 homes are being constructed by Nexus Energy Homes in the North Pointe area near Bentz Street. Each house will feature a variety of new environmentally friendly technologies that will leave homeowners with virtually no costs on their energy bills.

On Wednesday, Maryland GOvernor Martin O'Malley toured one of the model units, and lauded the builders for their achievements.

"I'm just very impressed," O'Malley told the Maryland Gazette, adding that in 30 or 40 years, this kind of construction will be the standard for new residences.

The efforts to promote energy efficiency throughout the state are part of a collaboration between federal, state and municipal governments to incentivize green living. One benefit homeowners will receive is tax credits for utilizing technologies such as solar panels and geothermal heating into their houses.

One homeowner who spoke with the source explained that her first electric bill after moving into one of the Nexus Energy Homes was only 50 cents. Even the small amount she did owe was primarily a fee from the energy company, as her bills since have been less than a nickel.


Malcolm D. Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, stated in the story that the state is currently "decades ahead" of others throughout the country in adopting energy efficient practices.

To help Maryland maintain its role as leader in green living, homeowners should seek an energy audit or a home inspection to learn how they can be more environmentally friendly.

For Mid-Atlantic states, damage from summer storms may be long-term

It has been a rough summer for residents of the Mid-Atlantic states who have had to endure record heat and devastating storms that, in some cases, left them without power for days.

Back in June, denizens of Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland bore witness to one storm that produced hurricane force winds, widespread thunderstorms and damaging floods. The National Weather Service concluded that this was a multi-day dericho storm, which is a rare weather event that causes massive damage over a swath of land that sometimes extends for hundreds of miles.

In response to the destruction, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley sent a request to the federal government asking them to declare six counties throughout the state as disaster relief areas, the Washington Post reports. O'Malley did this in the hopes of recouping up to 75 percent of the cleanup costs following the dericho.

Though much of the damage from the storm has since been repaired, a lot of the recovery will take place over the long term.

One issue residents will need to worry about is the development of toxic black mold, which the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) warns has the potential to develop anywhere where moisture levels are high. The CDC warns that hazardous black molds could be hard to find and identify as it may be behind walls. Black mold is known to develop in homes following major floods like the ones that took place during the storm.

Households affected by the dericho, or any of the weather events that have plagued the Mid-Atlantic during this abnormally severe summer, should contact a home inspector to determine the presence of damage that the owner may not immediately recognize. This includes seeking a mold inspection to take care of a potentially hazardous problem before it gets too large.  

Mold in air ducts calls for major remediation project at Vermont Veterans Home

Officials at the Vermont Veterans Home will begin replacing insulation and cleaning air ducts today after high levels of mold were found in air samples taken throughout the facility.

The outbreak was most concentrated in the homes dementia wing, where residents had to be evacuated following a mold inspection, according to the Bennington Banner.

Administrator Melissa Jackson told the source that the mold had even affected documents in storage at the home, permanently damaging many records being kept on file.

The inspections took place after the dementia wing was thoroughly cleaned and a "musty" smell was still present throughout the common area. On Friday, inspectors found high levels of the fungus c.cladosporioides as well as aspergillus-penicillium in the air ducts.

Jackson told the source that the fungi are similar to the kind that develop on tile grout and uncleaned refrigeration units. Though the molds do not cause serious health issues for those exposed, they do cause some respiratory problems for those with asthma or allergies if there is a high presence of the fungi in the air.

Twenty two residents who inhabited the dementia wing were relocated on Friday to a different wing of the hospital. Officials told the source that everyone affected by the outbreak has been cooperative and understanding so far in the remediation process.

For homeowners who have noticed a "musty" smell in their house, a home inspection may reveal an unsettling outbreak not unlike the one found in the Vermont Veterans Home. Conducting a mold inspection is the best way for residents to be safe and detect an outbreak in the home before it results in health hazards for their families.

Considering air duct cleaning? What homeowners must know

(ARA) – Imagine 40 pounds of dust spread throughout your home, pushed into the air for you and your family to breathe up to seven times a day, via your heating and cooling system.  Pretty gross thought, right?  Well, unfortunately there is a high possibility that this is the exact situation in your house right now.

Through normal occupation in a home, a sizeable amount of contaminants, such as dander, dust and chemicals, are generated.  In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually through everyday living, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association.  These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated five to seven times per day, on average.

Your heating and cooling system can be considered the lungs of your home, taking in air and breathing it out.  Generally, the cleaner the lungs, the cleaner the air in your home .  That’s why it’s important to get a quality HVAC cleaning done on a regular basis.  But beware, not everyone claiming to be an HVAC cleaning porfessional can do the job the right way.

There are some important things you need to consider so you avoid companies with unethical business practices or bad cleaning techniques:

  • Beware of fly-by-night companies who use scare tactics.  Instead of actually cleaning a customer’s HVAC system, these scam companies squeeze money out of their clients by causing them anxiety and worry.  Homeowners are told they have mold and other toxic substances in their systems – claims which are most likely false and used merely to extort money.
  • Watch out for bait-and-switch coupons,  Coupons and flyers advetising rock bottom prices on “whole house air duct cleaning” arrive in the mail daily for some households.  These companies might come to your home for a very reasonable price, but once they are in, either do a subpar job, or switch to much higher costing cleaning services that often are not to industry standards.
  • Look for a professional who is a member of MAD.  Members include HVAC industry professionals, including air systems cleaning specialists, mold remediators and HVAC inspectors who follow strict industry standards.  All members must have a certified Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff,  Visit www.nadca.com to find a member company near you.
  • Remember, not every house needs an HVAC cleaning.  A quality company will do an inspection first and recommend a complete cleaning only if necessary  They should be able to point out debris buildup that is visible to the human eye, such as by removing a floor register and taking a picture with a digital camera.
  • A proper cleaning should not only involve a big hose stuck in your home’s ductwork, but actual cleaning of the HVAC components as well.  Homeowners should run through a checklist with the duct cleaner they hire to ensure everything is done properly.  You can find a thorough checklist on www.nadca.com.

Cleaning your HVAC system can have many potential benefits.  In addition to reducing contaminants and providing your home with better indoor air quality, you may enjoy energy savings as well.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted.  A clean HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, and therefore, less energy is used, helping you save money on your utility bill.

North Carolina getaway a model of energy efficiency

Vacation homes are great investments for those who can afford them. However, their utility costs are often a huge drain on homeowners who aren't even occupying the space the majority of the year.

An approach taken by a Minnesota couple who built a vacation home in North Carolina shows that energy efficiency pays off on second properties. By constructing a house that doesn't run up their bills, they have made owning a getaway much more affordable.

The couple who commissioned the house had incorporated many clean technologies into their primary residence, such as high-efficiency windows and smart insulation keep them warm during their native state's harsh winters.

"They were pleasantly surprised that we were up to date with some of the things they’ve been doing in Minnesota for a long time," said Richard King, owner of Brookstone Builders, the company that designed the home, in a profile for EcoHome Magazine.

The house looks like a traditional North Carolina cabin, but it actually features top-of-the-line conservation systems. The home was certified Gold by the Green Built North Carolina certification program because of its use of Pella insulated windows, recycled wood floors, a tankless water heater as well as ample spray insulation.

The home, located in the Black Mountains, doesn't sacrifice comfort to achieve energy conservation. The kitchen is state of the art, utilizing Energy Star appliances, and the house features a wrap around porch and 1,400 square feet of living space.

Homeowners looking to save money on the bills for their vacation properties or primary residences do not need to look into new construction. An energy audit from a home inspection contractor can suggest where residents should stop waste and renovate in less than efficient houses.

Renters less likely to prevent asthma triggers than homeowners

According to a new study, asthma sufferers may be at a greater risk for complications if they choose to rent instead of owning a home.

The study, which was published in the August issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, found that asthma sufferers who rented their homes were less likely to make the recommended changes necessary to promote better breathing. Even if they were aware of what caused their respiratory issues, only 63 percent of renters would take steps to remediate triggers compared to 91 percent of owners.

Researchers found that the rise in asthma-related hospital visits coincided with a decrease in homeownership over the past decade. Because renters are less invested in their living spaces than homeowners, they often don't feel obligated to make healthy fixes to their living environment.

The precautions that doctors recommend are steps to prevent the presence of triggers in the air. Homeowners are more likely than renters to pursue a home inspection to detect for molds or leaks, the study shows.

Margaret Woda, a Washington D.C. area realtor, recommends on the Maryland Real Estate Blog that renters look into home inspections, as most of the issues people consider when moving in are simply cosmetic. Woda suggests that many people don't realize that respiratory health aren't the only concerns renters should be worried about.

Researchers recommend that simple precautions such as washing bed linens and vacuuming regularly to prevent dust mites are easy steps for renters and homeowners alike. However, going that one step further and contacting a home inspector to conduct procedures such as mold testing can go a long way in helping ensure a person's respiratory health. 

Virginia school district adopts LED lighting to save energy

Newport News, Virginia is leading the state in energy efficiency when it comes to illuminating their public schools. The district teamed up with Cree, a maker of high performance, low-emission LED fixtures to replace the lighting systems of seven area schools.

The new LED lights replaced 189 high-pressure sodium and 150 incandescent fixtures that were previously weighing heavily on the district's electric bills. By using LED lighting, officials estimate that they will save enough money on utilities over the next three years to have completely covered the costs of the project.

"These energy efficient lights virtually eliminate maintenance, provide the district with dramatic energy savings and also reflect the community’s commitment to sustainability. The LED lighting furthers our goal of enhancing and bettering the learning environment, while saving money for the schools and tax-payers," Keith Webb, the executive director of plant services for the Newport News Public School District, said in a press release.

This is not the first time the school district has made attempts to reduce its environmental impact. In 2008, Newport News invested almost $6 million into an energy efficient overhaul of local schools, replacing fluorescent and incandescent lighting with LED fixtures.

The upgrades made by the district will not only improve on their utility costs, but also provide brighter, more uniform lighting where the new fixtures were applied, according to the press release.

Virginia residents who would like to follow the example set by the Newport News School District by making their properties more efficient should get an energy audit from a home inspection contractor. This will help them to see where they can make changes to receive the greatest savings possible.

Maryland Green Designer Show Home nearing completion

The new Dutch-Colonial farmhouse being constructed off of Holladay Park Road in Gambrills may look like many other homes you'd find in the quiet Maryland suburb. However, this traditional-looking house is anything but underneath the surface, as it aims to earn Emerald status from the National Green Building Certification Program, the highest label offered by the group.

The home, which is nearing completion, was designed to be the centerpiece of the Preserve at Severn Run, a new 72-home community being built by Annapolis based Baldwin Homes. Designated the Maryland Green Designer Show Home by Baldwin, the proceeds from the sale of the house will go to the Hospice of the Chesapeake and Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic.

Mike Baldwin, the president of Baldwin Homes, told the Crofton Patch that the land the home is being built upon has been in his family since the 50s. The developer decided to take a green approach to constructing the new community out of consideration for the nearby Severn Run, a tributary to the Severn River, which is the location of many indigenous plant and wildlife.

All homes constructed in the Preserve will be designed around a stormwater conveyance system that will actually encourage the growth of plant life and reduce pollution in nearby waterways.

The property was also designed to help future inhabitants pay close to nothing on energy bills. With cement insulation, unique ductwork within the flooring and a specially designed sloping roof, Baldwin expects the property will set a standard for energy efficient homes nationwide.

Maryland residents inspired by the Green Designer Show Home but who can't afford to move into the $1.2 million property can still do their part by being more environmentally friendly. A home inspection which includes an energy audit can help inhabitants understand what changes they can make to eliminate wastefulness.