Improving Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality refers to how clean the air indoors is. We spend 90-95% of our time indoors. Often times the air outside is cleaner. This leads to health problems like allergies, asthma, etc.

Consumer Product Safety Commission and EPA has a good guide on how to improve indoor air quality. EPA has an extensive list of items that affect indoor air quality.

Major problems include: Smoking, Fireplaces, Mold, Dust, Radon, Stoves.

Some lesser known problems include: Offgassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals from paint, carpets, cleaners, office equipment, furniture, building materials.

NASA has done research to show that plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments.

An NCPA article states:
“For every 100 square feet of office area, one or two Boston ferns can clean so much formaldehyde out of the air that it is no longer detectable.

Other toxin-eating plants include the azalea, poinsettia, dieffenbachia, gerbera daisy, corn plant, pot mum, Chinese evergreen and various species of philodendron, schefflera, chrysanthemum, tulip orchid and ligustrum.”

Penn State recommends plants like Spider plants, Grape Ivy, Chinese evergreen, Snake plants and more.

If you have carpet, consider removing it or using modular green carpets such as Interface flor. Install using no voc adhesives.

Putting a better filter on your heater, such as a 3M Filtrete will also improve indoor air quality.

In room portable air purifiers with HEPA filters also help clear the air. Look for ones that are whisper quiet.

This is a lot cheaper and more eco than buying lots of air purifiers or replacing every piece of furniture you have.

Related posts:

1. What are VOCs? (Volatile Organic Compounds)
2. Air Duct and Vent Cleaning
3. Consumer Reports Indoor Paint Review
4. Improving Fireplace Efficiency
5. Air Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR
6. Air Conditioner Energy Savings
7. Water Generator – Pure Water from Air
8. Green Office Supplies at Office Depot

Posted on July 2nd, 2010
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