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Gone are the days that flat roofs need to be black tar – now they can be white, green, blue and solar-panel black.
On the green roof of the Mountain Equipment Co-op store in Toronto, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These different kinds of green roofs help solve serious environmental concerns, including air pollution, urban heat spots, storm water runoff and more.
Turning roofs into gardens or painting them white helps them to have much lower surface temperatures. A city’s average temperature is often much higher than in the surrounding suburbs (where more green spaces and trees provide more shade).
Green roofs can retain 75 percent of a one-inch rainfall and use the moisture to cool down.
The idea of green roofs is not new, but it has become a more popular choice in the past 50 years or so, especially in Europe, where Germany’s green roofs top the list (10 percent of roofs in Germany are considered green).
Costs of green roofs
Greening a roof requires some work and money and a lot of different materials: Insulation, waterproof membranes, barriers to control roots, drainage layers (gravel or clay), mats for erosion prevention, lightweight soil and plants.
Depending on the types of plants and maintenance work involves, a green roof can cost $15 to $30 per square foot.
But factoring in air conditioning and heating costs all year round, the expense may well be worth it.
Researchers from Columbia University and City University of New York found that a green roof can cut the rate of heat gained through the roof in summer by 84 percent, and the rate of heat lost through the roof in winter by 34 percent.
English: Chicago City Hall Green Roof (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Reducing the storm runoff water can help curb sewer overflows and improve public health.
Green roofs can also help reduce air pollution in the city. One square meter can absorb all the emissions from a car being driven 12,000 miles a year, experts say.
Source: New York Times
Air cleaners for healthier buildings
Greener roofs may help with reducing air pollution, but until they become mainstream, many workers and city dwellers will be exposed to the harmful fumes, gases and particulate matter polluting the city.
Electrocorp has designed air cleaners for facility management, offices and other applications.
The portable or HVAC-compatible air cleaners feature a complete air filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA plus optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.
The air filters can capture airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, allergens, mold and more.
For more information, contact Electrocorp today.
The green trend is continuing in the construction industry and indoor air quality is becoming more important.
More than 80% of builders surveyed in a new report say that construction now is greener than just two years ago and that energy-efficient features are more prevalent in new homes.
The goal to save money on utility bills may drive a lot of those energy-efficient choices, as does the need to differentiate a home from the competition.
Green homes also gained popularity because they are seen as being higher quality (and therefore higher value) and providing better indoor air quality.
Speaking of indoor air quality – it is growing in importance and focus for home builders. 60% of home builders believe that efforts to improve indoor air quality make homes greener than they were two years ago, and 95% of high volume home builders report including features that impact air quality.
Green homes made up a 17% share in the construction market in 2011, which amounts to $17 billion, but the report estimates that this market share will increase to between 29% and 38% by the year 2016.
A growing number of projects are also seeking green certification, the report says, and higher first costs for building green are noted by a much lower percentage of builders as an obstacle now than they were reported in 2008.
The SmartMarket report was released by McGraw-Hill Construction and surveyed members of the National Association of Home Builders.
Taking care of indoor air quality
When the energy-saving wave first hit the construction and renovation market, it was driven by a desire to save on heating costs and utility bills.
However, the ensuing airtight houses gave rise to a new risk to public health – indoor air pollution, which was named as one of the top 5 risks to public health by health authorities like the EPA.
So it’s good to hear that indoor air quality has been growing in importance in the building industry.
Electrocorp offers portable air cleaners like the RAP series.
Electrocorp has been a long-time promoter of good indoor air quality and offers air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.
Electrocorp’s air cleaners contain a multistage filtration system with activated carbon + HEPA + optional UV germicidal filtration.
Together, these filters can remove airborne chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and other contaminants.
Whether it’s during construction or renovation work, remediation projects or for air cleaning after the work is done in single-family dwellings or larger settings, Electrocorp can provide the right air cleaners, the most effective air filters and the most customizable options.
Contact Electrocorp for more information.
Lead rules need to be enforced to protect workers and homeowners as well as children, the EPA says.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced three enforcement actions for violators of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) as well as other important rules.
The rule has been put in place to protect workers from lead exposure during renovation activities like sanding, cutting and demolition. Inhaling lead dust has been linked to human health problems.
Lead exposure can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and even death and young children are particularly at risk because their bodies and nervous systems are still developing.
The rule took effect on April 22, 2010, and now administrators are looking for ways to enforce it to protect workers and children from hazardous lead dust.
Lead was a common ingredient in paints used before the 1950s and could therefore still be present in older homes and buildings.
Workers could be exposed to lead when removing old paint from a building’s exterior, for example, and by not properly containing the dust, it could also get into neighboring homes and contaminate the ground.
Home repair companies and contractors are required to train workers under the rule and make sure people understand the dangers of lead and ways to protect themselves.
The EPA will evaluate a company or individual’s ability to pay a penalty and adjust it accordingly.
Source: EPA
Indoor air quality during renovations: A serious concern
Renovations can expose workers and residents to a host of pollutants, not only lead dust, but also asbestos fibers, mold spores, chemicals, construction dust and more.
It is very important to deal up the portions of a home undergoing renovations and to make sure that the pollutants are contained.
Many companies and contractors will work with personal protective equipment, strong vacuums and air cleaners to help reduce exposure.
Electrocorp’s air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications contain a multistage filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.
The units can be used for positive or negative pressure environments to contain potentially harmful contaminants.
For more information and a recommendation of units, contact Electrocorp.
Related articles
- The link between indoor air quality and building materials (electrocorpairpurification.wordpress.com)
- Cleaner air and green living for senior residences (electrocorpairpurification.wordpress.com)
- The Top Ten Sources of Indoor Air Pollution (environmentechnology.wordpress.com)
The wrong building materials can lead to poor indoor air quality and respiratory disease.
Indoor air pollution is one of the top 5 risks to public health, and one of the main sources of exposure is the building materials.
The volatile organic compounds and other chemicals that can be emitted by common building materials can contribute to the onset or aggravation of respiratory diseases.
When building or renovating a home, people and contractors need to take building materials and indoor air quality into account.
Here is a selection of “healthy” building materials that won’t off-gas too many toxins and won’t affect the indoor air quality in a negative way.
- Concrete, ceramic tile and stone
- Paperless drywall
- Low-VOC paint
- Solid wood cabinets and doors (Products that contain plywood emit high levels of formaldehyde)
- Butcher block for countertops (better for IAQ than plastics laminates with adhesives)
- Factory finished flooring like bamboo and cork
- Fiberglass insulation (that is formaldehyde-free)
- Stainless steel
Look for eco-products that are certified and won’t pollute your indoor environment. A healthy home will require healthy air, and it all starts with the building materials.
Of course, keep ventilation systems and other air-quality friendly measures in mind when building or renovating a home.
Source: Business2Community
Use carbon + HEPA air cleaners when building or renovating homes
Along with proper planning, the right materials and good ventilation, a serious air cleaner with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA air filters can help keep the air in the home clean and healthy.
Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including VOCs, chemicals, gases, odors, dust, particles, fibers, mold, bacteria and viruses.
They can also keep the air clean after the work is done.
For more information, contact Electrocorp today.
Related articles
- High-impact indoor air pollutants identified in study (electrocorpairpurification.wordpress.com)
- VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Facts on Indoor Air Quality (metabodymind.wordpress.com)
- Poor indoor air quality and sick building syndrome (VIDEO) (electrocorpairpurification.wordpress.com)
New protocols protect indoor air quality while enhancing home energy efficiency
Home energy upgrades can lead to poor indoor air quality.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades, an initiative designed to give the home energy industry the tools to identify, manage, and reduce health risks during projects.
The guidelines will help protect families, homeowners, occupants and workers during home energy upgrades, retrofits or remodeling projects, EPA officials said in a press release.
The new protocols involve a step-by-step process for conducting assessments to evaluate indoor air conditions and the potential for risks that may arise during residential energy upgrades.
They include recommended minimum specifications and best practices to maintain or improve indoor air quality.
The protocols serve as a companion document to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) guidelines for Home Energy Professionals.
The DOE guidelines are intended to foster the growth of a skilled work force that will increase the homeowner’s confidence in the retrofit industry and increase the demand for home energy retrofits.
The documents are available here:
- U.S. Department of Energy’s Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals
- EPA’s Healthy Indoor Environment Protocols for Home Energy Upgrades
Improve indoor air quality with industrial air cleaners
A good health and safety program includes personal protective equipment, on-site assessments and industrial-strength air cleaning.
Electrocorp offers versatile, portable and highly efficient air cleaners for the home energy industry and construction/renovation businesses.
The air cleaners remove the widest range of pollutants such as chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold with a multistage filtration system of activated carbon and HEPA.
Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations.
