Ask someone who is allergic to pet dander and they will tell you that pet dander is a big indoor air quality problem and they will avoid entering a person's home because of it.
Pet dander is tiny microscopic flecks of skin shed by pets of all varieties. The fur or feathers of a pet are not the dander, but can contain some of the flecks of skin. Dander is so tiny and light weight that it easily floats in the air to places where your pet may not even go. Dust on a high ledge will contain dander in a home with a pet. Dander can include proteins in saliva, urine and feces as well. When dried these can fleck into small pieces and become airborne.
Airborne dander can be inhaled by the allergic person and cause a reaction. Pet dander remains suspended in the air for a long time, and can stick to bedding, furniture, drapes, and even clothing that is worn out of the house into another building or home. Pet dander hitchhikes its way around on fabrics so easily because the edges are jagged. Cat dander is said to be the stickiest. That means pet dander can be in buildings, homes, schools, offices and anywhere indoors, even when no pets actually live there!
Lung function declines for people who are allergic to pet dander and they experience nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing and chest tightness, and even, swollen glands and hives. They also experience watery, itching eyes and rashes or eczema. People experience different reactions at different concentrations of pet dander. Some are more sensitive than others. Pets can trigger asthma.
Pet dander, sometimes called pet pollen can even stick to walls and ceiling and become airborne again. Pet dander enters our bodies through our eyes, nose and mouth. It touches our mucous membranes and bronchial tubes. It's the protein in the skin and and saliva that it the allergen.
Washing and HEPA vacuuming of interior surfaces helps remove dander. Also air duct cleaning, commercial steam cleaning of carpet and wiping down walls and dusting surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a dry duster may help.
Pet dander is also food for dust mites who's fecal matter adds to indoor dust causing allergic reactions too. High humidity further adds to the problems.
In conclusion, pet dander has a bigger effect on indoor air quality than most non-allergy suffering people realize. It's hard to completely get rid of because it is airborne and sticks to fabrics and other materials. Even in public buildings that are well cleaned, pet dander will return on clothing of people who have pets at home.
Pets are popular even when their owners are mildly allergic to their dander. Removing a pet from a home and doing a thorough cleaning including air ducts, washing clothing and fabrics, steam cleaning carpeting, wiping down walls, replacing air filters and so on will help improve the indoor air quality for someone who suffers from pet dander allergies.
Please visit my website packed with good information on how to make your home more energy efficient. http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
Friday, February 25, 2011
Do I Need My Air Ducts Cleaned? - The Answer Will Surprise You!
Air duct cleaningsounds good and sanitary and is advertised as almost a necessity, however even with indoor air pollution becoming an issue of growing concern it may not be right for you. I used to think everyone should have it done if they can afford to, but I never actually read further about it until recently. Now my opinion has changed.
There is no substantial evidence that points to air duct cleaning in and of itself, as having a great impact on the energy efficiency of your home. There are some circumstances though that call for air duct cleaning. If your home suffers from one of these situations, you may wish to consider air duct cleaning. Anything super gross in your air ducts, other than some dust should trigger some desire to get your air ducts cleaned.
Air duct cleaning is recommended if there is visible mold growing on hard surfaces in and around air ducts. Keep in mind it is hard to see inside the air duct for visible mold so you many want to contact a professional if you suspect there might be mold in there. Also if air ducts are infested with rodents or insects or if they show excessive amounts of dust and debris. If particles are released into your home from your supply register, that would indicate a need for cleaning as well.
Much of the dirt or dust adheres to the inside surface and does not necessarily enter the living space. Dirt and dust build up sound gross, but unless it is coming out of the supply register it isn't causing a problem. Mold growth inside air ducts can be dangerous if the mold is toxic. Inhalation is the most dangerous way that humans come into contact with toxic mold. Even though not all mold is toxic, it is safer to treat it as though it is, until lab tests prove otherwise.
If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet and moldy, it should be removed and replaced. The conditions causing the mold growth must be corrected or the mold will recur.
Presently the EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but rather only as needed. There is also the question of what chemical biocides will be applied to the inside of air ducts to kill bacteria and fungi and whether these biocides are safe or whether they can cause more problems than the contaminants themselves.
Ozone, which is a lung irritant, is sometimes used instead of biocide. A light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal and does not warrant cleaning with biocides or ozone.
Preventing water and dirt from entering the duct system is the best way to prevent contaminated air ducts. Use high efficiency air filters, and change them frequently as needed. Have your air conditioner cooling coils and drain pans cleaned or checked yearly if possible. Vacuum your carpet with a HEPA filter vacuum.
Keep moisture out of air ducts by repairing any leaks or damage. If you see standing water and debris in the condensate pan that isn't draining have it checked right away. Air ducts running through attics, crawl spaces and other non-air-conditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated. Steam cleaning and any method involving moisture should never be used to clean air ducts.
Some companies advertise application of a sealant to prevent release of dust and dirt particles inside the air duct to the air. There are still questions about the safety and even the effectiveness of sealants. Also how they perform over time and do they disintegrate under different conditions is still questionable. More evaluation and research is needed before this type of procedure should be widely recommended.
Methods of cleaning air ducts are different depending on what the air ducts are made of. Sheet metal air ducts may be cleaned differently than flex duct, fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined air ducts. Clean air ducts sound great, but don't just get your air ducts cleaned with dangerous chemicals without doing research and understanding that there are likely risks involved, that haven't been fully discovered yet.
If you suffer from allergies, or have other health problems your evaluation may be different than other peoples evaluation. Look up the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html#Should before calling someone to clean your air ducts.
For more discussion and information on how to make your home energy efficient and cut your electric bills please visit my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
Please feel free to share your opinion and comments below!
There is no substantial evidence that points to air duct cleaning in and of itself, as having a great impact on the energy efficiency of your home. There are some circumstances though that call for air duct cleaning. If your home suffers from one of these situations, you may wish to consider air duct cleaning. Anything super gross in your air ducts, other than some dust should trigger some desire to get your air ducts cleaned.
Air duct cleaning is recommended if there is visible mold growing on hard surfaces in and around air ducts. Keep in mind it is hard to see inside the air duct for visible mold so you many want to contact a professional if you suspect there might be mold in there. Also if air ducts are infested with rodents or insects or if they show excessive amounts of dust and debris. If particles are released into your home from your supply register, that would indicate a need for cleaning as well.
Much of the dirt or dust adheres to the inside surface and does not necessarily enter the living space. Dirt and dust build up sound gross, but unless it is coming out of the supply register it isn't causing a problem. Mold growth inside air ducts can be dangerous if the mold is toxic. Inhalation is the most dangerous way that humans come into contact with toxic mold. Even though not all mold is toxic, it is safer to treat it as though it is, until lab tests prove otherwise.
If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet and moldy, it should be removed and replaced. The conditions causing the mold growth must be corrected or the mold will recur.
Presently the EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but rather only as needed. There is also the question of what chemical biocides will be applied to the inside of air ducts to kill bacteria and fungi and whether these biocides are safe or whether they can cause more problems than the contaminants themselves.
Ozone, which is a lung irritant, is sometimes used instead of biocide. A light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal and does not warrant cleaning with biocides or ozone.
Preventing water and dirt from entering the duct system is the best way to prevent contaminated air ducts. Use high efficiency air filters, and change them frequently as needed. Have your air conditioner cooling coils and drain pans cleaned or checked yearly if possible. Vacuum your carpet with a HEPA filter vacuum.
Keep moisture out of air ducts by repairing any leaks or damage. If you see standing water and debris in the condensate pan that isn't draining have it checked right away. Air ducts running through attics, crawl spaces and other non-air-conditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated. Steam cleaning and any method involving moisture should never be used to clean air ducts.
Some companies advertise application of a sealant to prevent release of dust and dirt particles inside the air duct to the air. There are still questions about the safety and even the effectiveness of sealants. Also how they perform over time and do they disintegrate under different conditions is still questionable. More evaluation and research is needed before this type of procedure should be widely recommended.
Methods of cleaning air ducts are different depending on what the air ducts are made of. Sheet metal air ducts may be cleaned differently than flex duct, fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined air ducts. Clean air ducts sound great, but don't just get your air ducts cleaned with dangerous chemicals without doing research and understanding that there are likely risks involved, that haven't been fully discovered yet.
If you suffer from allergies, or have other health problems your evaluation may be different than other peoples evaluation. Look up the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html#Should before calling someone to clean your air ducts.
For more discussion and information on how to make your home energy efficient and cut your electric bills please visit my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
Please feel free to share your opinion and comments below!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Bathroom remodel for energy efficiency. Find out why other people are doing it! http://ping.fm/EoIj9
Find out when you do and don't need a Building Permit to perform home repairs and remodeling on your home... http://dld.bz/PyNM
Is your refrigerator eating up too much electricity? Find out What you need to know about a new fridge ... http://dld.bz/PbSt
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
What Will It Take To Get Other People Involved In Energy Efficiency?
The notion of energy efficiency just isn't sexy enough to get people's attention it seems. How can we make the topic more urgent and interesting in order to get more people to participate in energy efficiency measures?
When people hear about energy efficiency ideas they usually like them, but do little or nothing about it. People tend to stay in their habit ruts unless something drastic pushes them to do something different. If you can't afford your electric bill then maybe you will take some measures to reduce it to an affordable level.
In the past policymakers have used a price-based approach such as greenhouse gas emissions taxes, and rebates for trading old appliances for energy efficient appliances, as incentives to encourage consumers to make better energy efficiency choices. Research in psychology and behavioral economics suggests that non-price approaches can be as powerful in influencing consumers choices.
Regularly sending each consumer an energy use report, which compares their consumption to similar nearby households along with a description of the social norm are better at reducing energy use than other appeals such as saving the environment and social responsibility. The report would also include energy conservation tips. Most people deny social norms will influence them, but trials done by Opower when partnering with several utility companies showed that social norms will influence behavior even though people claim it does not.
Find out more about energy efficiency by visiting my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
Share your ideas by commenting below.
When people hear about energy efficiency ideas they usually like them, but do little or nothing about it. People tend to stay in their habit ruts unless something drastic pushes them to do something different. If you can't afford your electric bill then maybe you will take some measures to reduce it to an affordable level.
In the past policymakers have used a price-based approach such as greenhouse gas emissions taxes, and rebates for trading old appliances for energy efficient appliances, as incentives to encourage consumers to make better energy efficiency choices. Research in psychology and behavioral economics suggests that non-price approaches can be as powerful in influencing consumers choices.
Regularly sending each consumer an energy use report, which compares their consumption to similar nearby households along with a description of the social norm are better at reducing energy use than other appeals such as saving the environment and social responsibility. The report would also include energy conservation tips. Most people deny social norms will influence them, but trials done by Opower when partnering with several utility companies showed that social norms will influence behavior even though people claim it does not.
Find out more about energy efficiency by visiting my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
Share your ideas by commenting below.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Should you replace your washer before your dryer? Which is more energy efficient? Find out http://dld.bz/Pg7u
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Are you a energy saving enthusiast? Have you added INSULATION to your home? Share your experience at http://ping.fm/0n8h6
Are you a energy saving enthusiast? Have you added INSULATION to your home? Share your experience at http://ping.fm/0n8h6
Are you in the market for a new toilet? Dual Flush Toilets- Have you heard? What you need to know... http://ping.fm/3wMdz
Are you in the market for a new toilet? Dual Flush Toilets- Have you heard? What you need to know... http://ping.fm/3wMdz
Save energy, don't turn up the heat! Stay toasty with an energy efficient space heater! Find out what you need to know http://ping.fm/P8dtg
Hi energy savers - have done anything to insulate your window coverings? please share ideas at http://ping.fm/9IMNT
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Hi energy savers - have done anything to insulate your window coverings? please share ideas at http://ping.fm/9IMNT
Save energy, don't turn up the heat! Stay toasty with an energy efficient space heater! Find out what you need to know http://ping.fm/P8dtg
Are you in the market for a new toilet? Dual Flush Toilets- Have you heard? What you need to know... http://ping.fm/3wMdz
Are you a energy saving enthusiast? Have you added INSULATION to your home? Share your experience at http://ping.fm/0n8h6
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Hello world... cold weather got you down? Why not shop for an energy efficient space heater? http://ping.fm/P8dtg
Hi energy savers - have done anything to insulate your window coverings? please share ideas at http://ping.fm/9IMNT
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hi energy savers - have done anything to insulate your window coverings? please share ideas at http://ping.fm/9IMNT
Hello world... cold weather got you down? Why not shop for an energy efficient space heater?
http://ping.fm/P8dtg
http://ping.fm/P8dtg
Friday, February 4, 2011
Video of a flash flood in Australia...Wow I've never seen anything like it. It must have been so scary!
http://ping.fm/PNjIC
http://ping.fm/PNjIC
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
how to make your home more energy efficient and cut your heating and cooling bills... http://ping.fm/N505Q
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
For other free useful info on how to make your home more energy efficient visit.... http://ping.fm/Vgenh
Smart Grid - What is it? What does it mean to you?
Smart grid is an electrical power distribution network that includes two-way, digital communications between suppliers and consumers. Smart grid works with a smart meter installed at the consumer end.
A plain electrical grid uses technology to deliver electricity from power plants to consumers. A Smart grid uses information technology to improve how the electricity travels to consumers, allowing consumers to interact with the grid, and offers benefits such as better response to electricity demand, better management of outages, more integration of renewable forms of energy, and storage of electricity.
The overall goal is optimization of consumer use of electricity, improving energy efficiency and controlling the flow of power to maintain reliable service and stable operation. Widespread use of this technology would reduce blackouts, which cost consumers, both individuals and businesses, millions of dollars. Also the increased efficiency of this system would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be more environmentally friendly. If everyone efficiently used electricity the reduction in pollution would be astounding. It is hard to get people to care enough to do something about it though. If everyone was on a smart grid and had a smart meter would the use it?
So what does this gobbledegook mean to you? Don't feel bad if is seems confusing, as even many employees at the electricity companies wouldn't be able to answer many questions about it. The overall idea will have to be put in simpler terms for consumers to be interested. People fear what they don't understand. Many people never figured out how to program their VCR's before they became obsolete and have yet to program their programmable thermostats because it seems complicated. Are some people too lazy to read?
One part of this system will be that consumers will use more electricity during off peak hours and less during peak hours. For example, your dishwasher and clothes washer might run their loads during the middle of the night based on the most efficient time. If you have a smart appliance it will communicate with the electricity provider as to what time that will be, based on what electricity is being used all over that night and how many other consumers have their machines ready to run that night.
There will be more planning and scheduling of electrical use, but you won't have to be the one planning it, because the electricity provider and your appliances could figure it out for you, and your electricity bill should go down as a result, and you'll be helping the environment by conserving energy.
Another benefit would be, for example, your hot water heater malfunctions and uses huge amounts of electricity that you don't know about until you get your massive bill and are shocked. This situation will be prevented with smart grid, because you will know how much electricity you are consuming as often as you want to know, and you would somehow be alerted almost immediately by your hot water heater or electricity provider, perhaps via a text to your phone that there is a problem. Your hot water heater may even shut itself off or be smart enough to self diagnose its problem and fix itself.
The interaction between consumer and supplier would be quick to point out problems within your home system. Once your home has a smart meter and is hooked up to smart grid it might reveal that your heating and cooling electricity use is way higher than normal in comparison to other similar homes. This would warrant further investigation and may uncover problems like air ducts improperly installed or not fully connected. As a consumer you may have continued to pay your electricity bill not realizing it was higher than it should be, because that was the usual monthly bill ever since you have lived there. You would have wasted electricity and money indefinitely without even knowing it. Incorrectly installed air ducts are not so uncommon, so this situation could be going on right now in your home without your knowledge. An energy audit would uncover this situation.
Smart grid can help consumers by tracking energy costs, identifying problems and reducing harm to the environment, but some wonder, is this yet another way you are giving up your freedom? It may increase energy efficiency but is it another way you are being controlled by “Big Brother”? Would you care if you were required by the utility company to have a smart meter? In some places they have been installed.
For more interesting information about energy efficiency please visit http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
A plain electrical grid uses technology to deliver electricity from power plants to consumers. A Smart grid uses information technology to improve how the electricity travels to consumers, allowing consumers to interact with the grid, and offers benefits such as better response to electricity demand, better management of outages, more integration of renewable forms of energy, and storage of electricity.
The overall goal is optimization of consumer use of electricity, improving energy efficiency and controlling the flow of power to maintain reliable service and stable operation. Widespread use of this technology would reduce blackouts, which cost consumers, both individuals and businesses, millions of dollars. Also the increased efficiency of this system would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be more environmentally friendly. If everyone efficiently used electricity the reduction in pollution would be astounding. It is hard to get people to care enough to do something about it though. If everyone was on a smart grid and had a smart meter would the use it?
So what does this gobbledegook mean to you? Don't feel bad if is seems confusing, as even many employees at the electricity companies wouldn't be able to answer many questions about it. The overall idea will have to be put in simpler terms for consumers to be interested. People fear what they don't understand. Many people never figured out how to program their VCR's before they became obsolete and have yet to program their programmable thermostats because it seems complicated. Are some people too lazy to read?
One part of this system will be that consumers will use more electricity during off peak hours and less during peak hours. For example, your dishwasher and clothes washer might run their loads during the middle of the night based on the most efficient time. If you have a smart appliance it will communicate with the electricity provider as to what time that will be, based on what electricity is being used all over that night and how many other consumers have their machines ready to run that night.
There will be more planning and scheduling of electrical use, but you won't have to be the one planning it, because the electricity provider and your appliances could figure it out for you, and your electricity bill should go down as a result, and you'll be helping the environment by conserving energy.
Another benefit would be, for example, your hot water heater malfunctions and uses huge amounts of electricity that you don't know about until you get your massive bill and are shocked. This situation will be prevented with smart grid, because you will know how much electricity you are consuming as often as you want to know, and you would somehow be alerted almost immediately by your hot water heater or electricity provider, perhaps via a text to your phone that there is a problem. Your hot water heater may even shut itself off or be smart enough to self diagnose its problem and fix itself.
The interaction between consumer and supplier would be quick to point out problems within your home system. Once your home has a smart meter and is hooked up to smart grid it might reveal that your heating and cooling electricity use is way higher than normal in comparison to other similar homes. This would warrant further investigation and may uncover problems like air ducts improperly installed or not fully connected. As a consumer you may have continued to pay your electricity bill not realizing it was higher than it should be, because that was the usual monthly bill ever since you have lived there. You would have wasted electricity and money indefinitely without even knowing it. Incorrectly installed air ducts are not so uncommon, so this situation could be going on right now in your home without your knowledge. An energy audit would uncover this situation.
Smart grid can help consumers by tracking energy costs, identifying problems and reducing harm to the environment, but some wonder, is this yet another way you are giving up your freedom? It may increase energy efficiency but is it another way you are being controlled by “Big Brother”? Would you care if you were required by the utility company to have a smart meter? In some places they have been installed.
For more interesting information about energy efficiency please visit http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/
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