Americans are increasingly demanding lower energy costs, healthier living, and improved air quality according to findings from a survey conducted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and McGraw-Hill Construction.
"We're crossing the tipping point for green home building," Harvey Bernstein, a McGraw-Hill Construction VP, said in a statement. "Concerns about energy costs, health, and even resale value are adding up for builders, buyers, and renters." "Being able to afford your utility bill is as important as being able to pay your mortgage," USGBC senior VP Michele Moore said.
The references above were taken from an article that was published in Eco-Home on line pointing out a shift in homeowner priorities towards "green construction" and finding ways to make their homes "healthy" and more energy efficient. This is not a surprising trend as there have been numerous articles about the increased health risk from airborne contaminants being "trapped" inside the home.
Both the CDC and EPA have been warning about increased levels of contaminants in new home construction that are built almost air tight and unless they are built with adequate ventilation, they can trap contaminants inside the home. There are minimum standards for air exchanges within new home construction that if ignored, can lead to serious health concerns.
Regardless of the age of home, proper ventilation in the home is important, as it ensures that fresh air is being introduced and provides a means for expelling the stale air to the outside. And as warm air along with airborne contaminants are heavy, they will fall to the lowest point in the home. This means the basement and/or crawl space is often the collection point for this "bad" air. And in most homes, the least ventilated area of the home is the basement and/or crawl space. And as "bad" air is not something we can see, we tend to ignore the accumulation of toxins which do have a way of creeping back up and finding ways into the duct system of the home.
By installing a ventilation system in the lower level that continually runs and recirculates the air and pulls air from the upper levels, it will assure that the lower level remains clear of contaminants, gases, and toxins and is being refreshed on a regular basis thus making the lower level a healthier environment.
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