All You Need is the Air That You Breathe…

When it comes to “green” remodeling, it’s often what you don’t see that can make a difference.

Mention eco-friendly strategies and you may immediately think of energy-efficient lighting, energy-saving appliances or sustainable materials such as bamboo, stone and cork. But, there are two other areas homeowners are carefully considering as they plan home makeovers —the air they will be breathing and the amount of water they use.

Indoor Air Quality

It starts with the manufacturing process. Materials and methods used in constructing cabinetry can enhance indoor air quality and greatly reduce allergic or respiratory irritations by minimizing the emission of urea formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) over the lifetime of the remodel.

The key is to ask kitchen designers and manufacturers the right questions at the beginning of the remodel.

Is the manufacturer CARB compliant? That means adhering to the strict California Air Resources Board regulations for eliminating formaldehyde in the manufacture of engineered woods.

What kinds of resins are used with engineered woods? You don’t want urea formaldehyde-based resins and glues. Fasteners are better than glue for cabinet assembly. Where is the finial finish applied? You want to avoid home application of lacquers (high VOCs) during installation. The better alternative is acrylic polyurethane applied at the factory. For more information, visit the Green section of this website.

Water Conservation

Homeowners are finding out that they do not have to give up aesthetics or performance for efficiency. Beautiful design and effective products can go hand-in-hand with efficient plumbing. The products are out there. And, the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense education program is helping consumers learn how they can have the best of both worlds while selecting water-efficient toilets, showerheads and faucets.

For instance, high-efficiency faucets (HEFs) and accessories like faucet aerators are able to reduce flow by more than 30 percent and still deliver the desired water pressure and flow.

The good news for consumers is that when it comes to the air quality and water use in their homes, it is easy being green. It’s just a matter of selecting your products with care.