Is Your Home Healthy and Eco-Friendly?
Homeowners should be wary of the materials they use for their home improvement projects. If anything, some commercial tools and materials may contain various chemicals that could lead to the development of debilitating diseases.
If safety is your number one priority at home, it’s important to make sure you buy health-friendly and eco-friendly products. Seeing that safety at home doesn’t get much traction in the media, it’s important that people should begin to adopt safer and more environmentally-friendly ways when it comes to home improvement.
photo Stefan Krause, Germany
It all starts with knowing if your home could actually pass federal environmental and health standards. Here are a few things to consider along those lines.
- Availability of Eco-friendly lighting
The homes of today are equipped with amenities and facilities that not only reduce monthly energy bills but also keep annual energy consumption within acceptable levels. Energy-efficient LED bulbs have become a standard, replacing incandescent lighting which consumes too much energy and is known to emit a high amount of carbon dioxide.
Then again, there are energy-saving bulbs that could actually harm people’s health. To be sure you’re purchasing safe lightbulbs, check with the manufacturer and see if the LED lights you’re going to purchase contain traces of cancer-causing materials such as styrene and phenol.
- Adequate insulation
If you’re complaining about the fact that your energy bills are going through the roof, then you might want to check your home and see if you’re using the right R-values for certain places such as the basement and attic. Many homebuyers nowadays consider having their homes properly insulated. Sure enough, the market for prefabricated homes has become even more competitive as prefab manufacturers have created products that already have insulation.
- Less reliance on asbestos
It’s no secret that asbestos contains chemicals that can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. Although homeowners regard it as less expensive, it’s still worth noting that prolonged exposure to residue from asbestos fibers could cause lung diseases and mesothelioma which, according to bergmanlegal.com, can be fatal at both work and at home.
Since we’re already familiar with the dangers of asbestos, it’s important to look towards healthier alternatives such as cellulose, cotton fiber, and icynene. Although these are not as budget-friendly as asbestos panels, at least they won’t pose as much of a health and environmental risk at home.
- Go local with your home renovation
Planning to remodel your kitchen? Perhaps you’re updating your deck to achieve a more rustic feel? At any rate, home improvement projects can cost you money and, if you’re not careful enough, damage the environment. High VOC paint and materials that are laden with toxic chemicals could affect your family’s health. So, on your next remodelling project, opt to source your materials locally. This is because solutions that are close to home have better chances of securing a healthier environment for you and your family.
Your health and the environment are in the same boat. So, you should be careful not to sink it by using healthier and more eco-friendly alternatives you may have to keep in mind when looking for a home.
Author: Mahendra
