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| Sustainable Spaces |
| health + efficiency + environment |
Health + Efficiency +
Environment
At Sustainable Spaces we look at everything we do
in terms of its impact on our customers health, their homes resource
efficiency, and its effect on the environment. There are a combination
of factors that need to be evaluated to determine the health and
efficiency of a home, and any remediation work that is to be
undertaken.
It is only through a holistic approach that we can designate a home a
Sustainable Space.
Health: In industrialized countries most people spend more than 90% of their lives inside buildings. During this time the nature of the enclosed environment directly affects the health, quality of life, and productivity of the occupants.
Modern buildings, however, clearly have a problem providing a healthy or even appropriate indoor environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concedes that about 30% of new or renovated buildings have serious indoor air quality problems (IAQ), and ranks IAQ as our most prominent environmental problem (Roodman and Lenssen, 1995). In fact, recent estimates place the direct health care costs of poor IAQ in the US at $30 billion, with sick leave and productivity losses adding another almost $100 billion annually (Fisk and Rosenfeld, 1997).
The catch phrase "Sick Homes" describes homes with poor, even hazardous, living environments. There are several sources, which can make homes uncomfortable and unhealthy to live in.
Poor air quality may result from a combination of factors. New houses are insulated and sealed so well that no fresh air enters in. Moisture builds up but can't escape and that makes a perfect breeding ground for mold.
Also, some types of building materials emit vapors that are harmful or discomforting to many people. Such conditions eventually make a house "sick." Common sources of pollutants in the home are Carpets, Furnace, Fireplace, pressed wood Cabinets & Cupboards, excessive moisture.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) consist of a range of chemicals that are released into the air over time. Often described as that pleasant, "new smell," VOCs can be harmful. Short-term exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, nausea and irritate eyes, throat and nose.
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Pollutant
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Found In
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VOCS
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Carpet,
Paint, Fabric
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Mold
& Mildew
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Air
Conditioner, Humidifier, Heat Ducts
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Nitrogen
Dioxide
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Wood-burning
Stove & Fireplace Smoke
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Formaldehyde
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Resin-based
Particleboard, Fiberboard, Cabinets, Countertops, Carpet, Fabric
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Radon
Gas
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Seeps
Through Cracks in Foundation
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Airborne
Particles
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Carpets, Ducts, Attics, Crawls Spaces |
Newly introduced VOCs, especially in carpet, can easily be detected by
the odor they give off. They smell "new." Open up a cupboard door and
smell. If it smells "funny," formaldehyde may be present. If you see
discolored walls, it may be mold.
Can you smell if there's trouble? Yes, and no. Sustainable
Spaces must rely on sophisticated equipment to definitively
identify problems. But to a degree, the nose knows, so if it does not
smell right, get it checked out!
Efficiency: In the United States, buildings account for:
• 36% of total energy use / 65% of electricity consumption
• 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
• 30% of raw materials use
• 30% of waste output/136 million tons annually
• 12% of potable water consumption
By fixing efficiency problems in ducts, insulation and HVAC equipment, and a host of other common issues, building owners can dramatically reduce utility costs and energy consumption.
Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 a year on their home's utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. The amount of energy wasted just through poorly insulated windows and doors is about as much energy as we get from the Alaskan pipeline each year. And electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. By using a few energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10% to 50%.
The key to achieving these savings is a whole-house energy efficiency plan. To take a whole-house approach, view your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, your heating system is not just a furnace—it's a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout your home using a network of ducts. You may have a top-of-the-line, energy-efficient furnace, but if the ducts leak and are uninsulated, and your walls, attic, windows, and doors are uninsulated, your energy bills will remain high. Taking a whole-house approach to saving energy ensures that dollars you invest in energy efficiency are wisely spent.
Energy-efficient improvements not only make your home more comfortable, they can yield long-term financial rewards. Reduced operating costs more than make up for the higher price of energy-efficient appliances and improvements over their lifetimes. Improvements may also qualify you for an energy efficiency mortgage, which allows lenders to use a higher-than-normal debt-to-income ratio to calculate loan potential. In addition, your home will likely have a higher resale value.
In today’s crazy energy market, it makes more sense than every to make bring your home up to Energy Star Performance Standards, and start saving today.
Environment:Sustainable Spaces believes that green building is essential both for healthy living and the long-term survival of our world. The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity.
In order to qualify as a green building product, materials must not damage the environment or human health over their entire lifecycle. These materials must be safe and sound to produce, use, and eventually dispose of.
Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to designers, builders and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.
Environmental benefits:
• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce solid waste
• Conserve natural resources
There are green material alternatives for just about every product used in your home. There are paints and carpets that don’t off gas, wood that is sustainable harvested, and fixtures that use fewer resources. You can build green without sacrificing your comfort or your pocket book.
