Wave Home Solutions

Buying Green

In the January on line EcoHome Magazine it lists 10 building predications for 2010 that go from homeowners monitoring their daily energy usage, reducing carbon footprints, to focus on water conservation.  The article states that "Home buyers are driving demand for green building, particularly in metropolitan areas, ... and their motivations vary from financial savings to a desire for healthier living environments."

Simply put "green" is in for 2010 and finding ways to reduce maintenance costs, improve the efficiency of the home, and contribute to reducing utility costs (carbon footprint) are high on every homeowners list as well as all new home buyers.  Pushing it along is the current administrations push towards green solutions coupled with the reality that these solutions can provide both short-term and long-term financial returns.

With water conservation being in the top 10, this piece with how getting limescale issues in your home resolved can contribute to conserving water, lowering of utility bills and reducing the maintenance costs of the home.  Limescale that forms inside the pipes in your home, on the heating coils of the dishwasher, hot water heater, inside the shower head, and faucets can significantly reduce the efficiency of the home.  It takes more energy to heat when there is an insulating crust of scale around the coil. 

One method of dealing with limescale is using a salt or chemical based water treatment system but, with the focus on green solutions, it is becoming a less of a favored option plus with states like California passing a bill in 2009 that gives communities the ability to BAN water softeners, it's only a matter of time before other states adopt the same stance.

Hydrocare is a patented system (NOT electro magnetic) that sends a signal throughout the plumbing lines rendering the calcium/magnesium (limescale) crystals inert so they will not adhere to heating coils and the sides of pipes.  It also removes existing scale and ultimately, as the scale dissipates, contributes to significantly improving appliance efficiency, extending appliance life, as well as reducing utility bills and homeowner maintenance costs.

Surgeon General Healthy Home 2009

In 2009 the Surgeon General issued a "call to action to promote healthy homes".  It states that .. "Many factors influence health and safety in homes, including structural and safety aspects of the home (i.e., how the home is designed, constructed, and maintained; its physical characteristics; and the presence or absence of safety devices); quality of indoor air; water quality; chemicals; resident behavior; and the house’s immediate surroundings. The link between these housing features and illness and injury is clear and compelling.  Poor indoor air quality contributes to cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and other illnesses."

The report goes on to say that "Poor indoor air quality can contribute to symptoms ranging from eye, nose, and throat irritation to chronic conditions. Pollution sources such as wood smoke, natural gas combustion, or cigarette smoking that release gases or particles into the air can contribute to indoor air quality problems in homes. For example, secondhand smoke can cause respiratory and heart disease, whereas radon causes cancer. Inadequate ventilation also contributes to poor indoor air quality. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants."(National Institute of Building Sciences 2005).

The report state that the "two effective ways to reduce indoor air pollution are to eliminate or reduce emissions from indoor sources and to improve ventilation."  It goes on to clarify ways to increase and improve ventilation by mechanical means and/or by opening the doors and windows.  During the winter when the house is shut, opening windows is not a realistic option so mechanical ventilation is required. 

Installing a mechanical ventilation unit in the lower level of the home that runs 24/7 and creates healthy air exchanges in the home will reduce the issues that are associated with poor indoor air quality.  The Wave Ventilation unit is a cost effective solution, takes the air from the lowest area of the home where the "bad" air accumulates and expels it to the outside.