Page 36 - Green Builder Homeowner's Handbook 2016

The Homeowner’s Handbook SEVENTH EDITION

Indoor Air Quality05
Remove particles, don’t just send them airborne.

Controlling the flow of air in and out Keep Walls Under Wraps
of the home has a huge impact on
indoor air quality, but monitoring Housewrap is only as effective as its installation. For example,
potential toxins in materials and
products is equally important. metal flashing above doors or windows should be installed

ONE OF THE confusing characteristics of green before the housewrap, not on top of it.
building certification programs is the way they
lump together two different aspects of building Virtues Caveats
science: saving energy and keeping indoor air safe
and clean. Is a green home one that saves energy, ¦¦ Reduces air infiltration ¦¦ Can’t be left exposed indefinitely
or one that has healthier indoor air than a conventional home?
The answer is both. How did the two concepts get mashed together ¦¦ Repels windborne rain ¦¦ Requires careful installation
this way? Blame tight houses. As windows, walls and basements have
become less leaky, the stuff that pollutes air inside the home—glues, ¦¦ Long service life
carpets, paints, pressed board cabinets—has suddenly become a lot
more dangerous. So, here’s the deal. If you want to build or retrofit home. Housewrap is only as good as its installation, however.
your home to be greener, you’ll have to control the air quality at The Department of Energy says that housewrap must be taped at
the same time. There are three ways to do this: first, by eliminating every seam. Otherwise, it may be 20 percent less efficient. It’s also
pollutants at the point source; second, by keeping moisture levels important that housewrap not be left exposed to sun and wind for too
healthy indoors; and third, by mechanically “cleaning” the air. long, factors that can degrade its effectiveness over time.

Here are some key products whose attributes help CARPET
provide healthier indoor air: Look Below the Surface
Carpets have only in the last decade or so come under close scrutiny
HOUSEWRAP for their environmental impacts—both in and out of the home.
Passive Resistance

Some modern building products operate passively. Housewraps
fall under this description. These weather-resistant barriers allow
water vapor to escape living spaces and wall cavities (where it
might condense and encourage mold or mildew), at the same
time preventing unwanted outdoor air from creeping into the

VISION HOUSE® AT MARIPOSA MEADOWS SPONSOR VISION HOUSE® AT MARIPOSA MEADOWS PRODUCT

Panasonic WhisperFit EZ BEAM Alliance Central Vacuum
Ventilation Fan
The BEAM Alliance power unit and cleaning set by
This ceiling-mount ventilation fan is ideal for Electrolux boasts advanced technology. A high-efficiency
residential remodeling. Built-in Pick-A-Flow motor uses 30 percent less energy than other central
speed selector allows a user to select required vacuums. The system comes with the BEAM Alliance
airflow (80 or 110 CFM). Installation for this HEPA filter and a collection receptacle that snaps
Energy Star-certified fan is made easy with the into place to assure a perfect seal, preventing dirt and
Flex-Z Fast installation bracket and detachable allergens from re-entering your home.
installation adapter. http://bit.ly/1U48PEQ www.beamvac.com

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