Page 32 - The Homeowner's Handbook 2017

THE HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK EIGHTH EDITION

Why Homeowners Don’t Use Range

Hoods— ——and Why They Should

Home occupants are not using Only 8 percent of the participants used their ventilation system
whenever they cooked, while 8 percent used ventilation “almost
range hoods to control moisture, never,” and 15 percent used ventilation only “once in a while.”
The most common reasons cited for using a kitchen ventilation
but “smart” range hoods will do system were to control odors and smoke. Noise was the most com-
this task automatically. mon reason for avoiding the kitchen ventilation system.

ONTROLLING MOISTURE BUILD-UP in the home OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
is one of the most important strategies for ensur- Since people are more likely to use a fan if it isn’t noisy, always spec
ing healthy indoor air. A continually moist en- an Energy Star-rated unit. Range hoods that have earned the Energy
vironment harbors biological pollutants such as Star label are not only 70 percent more efficient, they must also
mold and dust mites, which can trigger asthma meet standards for noise and efficacy. The Energy Star website also
Cand other respiratory illnesses. includes a searchable database: http://bit.ly/2dxlYX4
Regular use of kitchen exhaust ventilation systems can help con- One of the best innovations in range hood technology in recent
trol moisture. Yet, according to a study published by the Forum for years has been particle- and heat-sensing devices. In our view, these
Family and Consumer Issues (FFCI), most people don’t use range devices should become the de facto standard across the industry.
hoods for moisture control, but for other issues, such as smoke Further, it’s time for range hoods to be integrated with the Internet
and odors. The study, Use of Kitchen Ventilation: Impact on Indoor of Things. For homeowners, reluctant or not, there would be clear
Air Quality, found that noise is a major factor, as is homeowner health benefits to regular use of range hoods. And for those who
ignorance about the importance of ventilating a modern home. choose not to use the hoods, devices that are “smart” can automati-
Most of the participants (92 percent) reported having mechani- cally kick on anyway, clearing the air for everyone else who lives
cal kitchen ventilation systems. Here’s the really interesting part: in the building. Visit http://bit.ly/1PReChg to read the full study.

30 GREEN BUILDER The Homeowner’s Handbook 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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