I’ve written a number of posts on a variety of blogs about indoor air pollution. I fret about it a lot too. If I had my way the Surgeon General would post a warning.
Being Indoors Can Be Bad For You!
Of course that’s true in many ways – but I’ve become a fan of air purification systems, so when I saw a press release on The Goddard School in Buford Georgia putting in an air purification systems, I started thinking…. Where else does it make more sense to have an air purification system than in a preschool.
A no brainer, really.
(Goddard, a preschool operator who has enbraced all sorts of green initiatives, such as rainwater reclamation, as well as, goodies I like, such as Yoga, sign language and lots of pretend play, is one of my sponsors for Blogher. So you’ll be hearing more about them as I post and Tweet from Blogher in Chicago at the end of July.)
There are a couple of different companies that install HVAC systems that reduce VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) but for some reason I’ve never thought about my child’s school or camp. So maybe it’s a bad time what with budget cuts, to be thinking about this sort of thing, but it IS worthwhile if you’re planning ahead.
Here’s at minimum what to look for at your child’s school or camp.
1. At minimum, any school should be using green cleaning products to reduce toxic chemicals in the air. With the wide availability now, this is a low cost and very easy step to implement.
2. Windows should be open as much as possible, even in colder climates. Believe it or not, indoor air tends to be more polluted than that outside.
3. Low VOC carpet is another plus. Carpets are notorious for giving off toxins and face it, in lower grades, most kids spend a fair amount of time sitting on the floor.
4. Air filtration systems are optimal. They improve air quality by eliminating mold, controlling bacteria and the spread of airborne viruses.
So just one more thing to worry about and another reason to keep them outside as much as possible.
Photo credit: stopdown at Flickr Under Creative Commons License
This is a very good point. Especially when we regard the question in the context of places that kids spend most of their time, the EPA’s inclusion of indoor air pollution in their list of the “Top 5 Environmental Health Threats” is especially poignant.
For more info about (poor) indoor air quality and what to do about it check out our “Learn” section over yonder at energycircle.com: http://www.energycircle.com/blog/learn-about-home-energy/air-quality/
What a goldmine of a site you have. In addition to the VOCs for healthier air one needs to remove the tiny airborne RSPs that go deep into the lungs worsening allergies asthma and other respiratory illnesses. With the new non-metallic technology in whole home/whole facility air cleaners such as AspenAir Inside we have an affordable way to remove 99% of the RSPs. Such units can be bolted onto most any HVAC system, need only 1-2 filter changes a year (less than 10 min. total) and do not emit harmful ozone. Here in Calif where we often have summer wildfires this has been especially helpful.
I write about ways to keep the air clean at home – the one place we can control here…
http://healthyairathome.blogspot.com/
Have you seen the AirSource 3000?
http://www.shaklee.net/bethechange/product/55102
There is a home unit as well as one for your vehicle.