Essential Considerations for a Healthier Home Environment

Indoor air pollutants can cause various health problems, particularly for young children, older adults and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. Some health effects can show up only years after exposure, while others are more noticeable after short and/or repeated periods of high concentrations.

Some sources of pollutants release their chemicals more or less continuously; others, such as radon, smoke from combustion (oil, gas, kerosene and coal), products for household cleaning and hobbies and central heating and cooling systems release them intermittently.

1. Ventilation

Most pollutants in homes come from indoor sources. Many of these pollutants can be decreased or eliminated by controlling the source. This is often more cost-effective than improving ventilation.

Poor ventilation allows indoor air to become stagnant and stale, which can cause a variety of health problems. It can also lead to higher humidity levels, which promote the growth of mold and mildew, as well as fungi that can affect the respiratory system by producing spores.

Good ventilation brings in outdoor air to reduce the concentration of pollutants from indoor sources, as well as diluting them and carrying them away. This is accomplished through infiltration, which refers to the natural flow of outdoor air into structures through openings, joints and cracks. This occurs in all homes to some extent.

2. Filtration

A healthy home environment is a key component of preventing a number of illnesses. This is especially true for hay fever sufferers who want to avoid irritants like pollen and mold spores.

Several pollutants impact indoor air quality (IAQ), including tobacco products, fuel-burning combustion appliances like space heaters, wood and coal stoves and fireplaces, cleaning and chemical-based household products, building materials, radon, and pathogens. Different sources have different impacts because they emit different gases and particles over time and in varying concentrations.

IAQ can also be impacted by temperature and humidity; some bacteria, viruses, and allergens thrive in high temperatures and low moisture levels, while others need warmer environments to grow. Short-term exposure to indoor pollutants can cause symptoms that include headaches, fatigue and trouble concentrating, while long-term exposure can lead to more serious illnesses.

3. Air Purifiers

With regular cleaning, the use of non-toxic cleaning products and the growth of indoor plants, air quality can be improved on a room-by-room basis. However, the most significant improvements to indoor air quality will require a more comprehensive approach to eliminating harmful gasses and pollutants.

An air purifier can help to reduce the amount of outdoor pollution that makes its way into your home. It can also remove air irritants like pet dander, pollen, smoke and mold that can trigger asthma attacks or aggravate existing conditions such as COPD and heart disease.

However, air purifiers are not able to catch gases like VOCs that may be released from home paint and cleaning products. These gases can be inhaled and have been linked to headaches, nausea, respiratory issues and even cancer.

4. Heat Pumps

For the millions of homes and buildings that require cooling in summer and heating in winter, heat pumps are becoming the system of choice for sustainable comfort while cutting planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. These quiet, powerful all-electric systems use a refrigeration cycle to move energy from the air or ground, warming and cooling your home without burning fossil fuels like natural gas.

Most modern air-source heat pumps (the most common type) trim households’ carbon footprints by about 40 percent compared to conventional gas furnaces—depending, of course, on how the electricity that powers them is generated. In dense urban settings, interconnected heat pump systems offer even more value in the form of district energy configurations.

At Fresh Energy, we’re working to advance heat pump solutions in a number of ways:

5. Ductwork

The link between some common pollutants and health effects has been established, but there are a number of other issues that can affect indoor air quality as well. Some of these include radon, carbon monoxide and legionella bacterium.

Residential ductwork connects heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to living spaces throughout the home. Over time, these ducts can accumulate dust, mold and allergens and spread these contaminants to the living areas of the house.

Ducts can be constructed from sheet metal, insulated fiberglass strands held together with resin or flexible aluminum. Insulated fiberglass ducts tend to be the least expensive but, over time, can develop cracks and gaps which promote mold growth. A new alternative is ductwork made from a porous fabric which eliminates condensation and doesn’t support mold.