Avoiding indoor air pollution at home

September 24, 1996
Web posted at: 2:30 p.m. EDT

From Correspondent Ann Kellan

(CNN) -- You don't have to go outdoors to find air pollution. In fact, indoor air may be more polluted than outdoor air, according to Dennis Creech. It's his job to find -- and remove -- such hidden hazards.

Creech is executive director of Southface Energy Institute, a non-profit Atlanta organization that specializes in environmental technologies. An innovative model home built by Southface is used to demonstrate common-sense ways of keeping indoor air clear.

Among Creech's suggestions:

• Seal holes near plumbing and lighting fixtures to block the primary source of air leakage into homes.
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• Use wood or caulking to cover these gaps, which tend to draw in unfiltered air from attics and basements.
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• Keep humidity down. The Southface model home uses a high-powered dehumidifier that brings in fresh outside air while removing more than 12 gallons of moisture each day.

• Invest in a super-efficient air filtration system. Before the dehumidified air in the model home is released into the ventilation system, it passes through filters 17 times more efficient than conventional panel filters.
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Not all indoor pollutants are solid particles. Some building materials, including everything from adhesives to paint to carpeting contain chemicals called "volatile organic compounds," or VOCs.

They can be harmful when inhaled over a long time. But with a little effort, VOCs can be avoided, Creech says. "Careful selection of material goes a long way. You can buy products that have no VOCs."

Creech hopes the Southface model house will set an example for new home design and construction. While most of the ideas displayed in the model would be an additional expense for homeowners, he believes the payoff, over time, is a healthier living space.

Related site:

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• Southface Energy Institute

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