Creating A Greener Home

Creating a
Greener Home
Mary Gatch
info@dwellsmart.com
(843) 805-7055
www.dwellsmart.com

Introductions
• DwellSmart opened in
November 2007
– Healthful, eco-friendly
products for safe,
comfortable, and
efficient interiors
– Located at 146 Williman
Street in Charleston, SC

Introductions
• Inspiration and motivation
– Living in a not-so-healthy house …
– Struggling to build an eco-friendly house
– Developing increased chemical sensitivity
… and asthma and allergies
• Key sources of my environmental illness
– Toxic mold (stachybotrys)
– Elevated levels of mercury, lead, aluminum,
and arsenic
– Exposure to excessive electrical pollution

Introductions
• Who is …
– Personally impacted by allergies,
asthma, or chemical sensitivities?
– Living with an impacted person?
– Treating patients with environmental
illnesses?
– Planning to build a new house?
– Planning a remodel?
– Updating interior design, furnishings?

Part 1: Creating a
Healthier Home
Mary Gatch
info@dwellsmart.com
(843) 805-7055
www.dwellsmart.com

Presentation Overview
• Trends and Statistics
• Environmental Illness
• Top Home Health Hazards
• Reducing Exposure
• Questions & Answers

Trends and Statistics
• Charleston County air quality rated “F” by ALA
• The EPA increasingly concerned with indoor air
quality (IAQ)
– many pollutants indoors are often at levels 2-5 times
(and can be >100 times) higher than outdoors
• People spend as much as 90% of their time
indoors
• Asthma rates are rapidly increasing
– up 450% since 1980, nearing 30 million in U.S.
– 9% of Charleston’s children are affected
• More than 50% of U.S. population test positive
to one or more allergens

Environmental Illness
Top Home Health Hazards
Reducing Exposure
Questions & Answers

• Some common illnesses caused by
and/or exacerbated by our
environment
– Allergies and Asthma
– Chemical Sensitivity
– Chronic Fatigue
– Auto-Immune Disorders
– Mental Illness
– Cancer

Allergic Reactions
• Common and well recognized
– Skin: rashes & hives
– Eyes: excessive tearing, itchy, & red
– Respiratory: sneezing, coughing, &
shortness of breath
• Common reactions by other systems
– Digestive system
– Brain and neurological system
– Heart and circulatory system

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Mood changes
• Difficulty
concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Decreased hearing
• Sore throat
• Excessive
perspiration
• Heart palpitations
• Flushing
• Chronic obesity
• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
Common Symptoms

• Everyone is susceptible
• Key factors
– Exposure (degree and duration)
– Genetics
– Other factors (e.g. diet, exercise)

• Protective organs
– Skin
– Lungs
– Liver
– Kidneys
– Colon

Organs
Can’t
Keep Up
Organs
Can’t
Keep Up
Toxins
Stored
Toxins
Stored
Toxins
Overflow
Toxins
Overflow
Chemical
Imbalances
Chemical
Imbalances
Endocrine
Disruption
Endocrine
Disruption
Digestive
Trouble
Digestive
Trouble
Fatigue,
Neurological
Trouble
Fatigue,
Neurological
Trouble
Toxins
AllergiesAllergies
MalnutritionMalnutrition
ToxinsToxins
Impacts of Exposure

• How do you break/reverse the cycle?
– Support organs of elimination
• Diet
• Exercise
• Supplements
– Reduce exposure
– Detoxify
• Colon
• Kidneys
• Liver

Top Hazards
1. Mold
2. Chemicals
• Cleaning and personal care products
• Formaldehyde and other VOCs
• Pesticides and insecticides
• PVC’s/Phthalates
• Petrochemicals (synthetics, paints, finishes, fabrics)
• Chlorine & water contaminants
1. Dust and dust mites
2. Animal dander
3. Electrical pollution
4. Carbon monoxide
5. Ozone
8. Lead
9. Asbestos
10. Radon
And…

Top Hazards
Mold
• Do symptoms occur or get worse …
– With exposure to hay
– When raking leaves
– When mowing the lawn
– In a damp basement
– During damp weather
– When you eat fermented foods (beer, wine,
cheese, pickles, vinegar) or mushrooms
• Are you allergic to penicillin?
Source: Why Your House May Endanger Your Health

Top Hazards
Chemicals
• Do symptoms occur or get worse when
exposed to …
– Smoke
– Mothballs
– Paint or gas fumes
– Solvents
– Insect sprays & lawn products
– Perfumes, lotions, shampoos
– Petroleum residues (e.g., tar, newspaper ink)

Top Hazards
Dust
– When the heating season starts
– During house cleaning
– When making the bed
– In a library
– In the bedroom
– When sitting on upholstered furniture
– When you wake up in the morning (with
gradual improvement during the day)

Top Hazards
Dander
– When exposed to cats, dogs, & horses
– When exposed to animal hair (rabbit, mohair,
wool) in sweaters, blankets,
rugs, or furniture
– When exposed to feathers
(birds, pillows, down comforters)

Top Hazards
Electrical / EMF
– Indoors, at home or at the office
– When speaking on a cell phone
– While traveling by car or plane
– In the kitchen and laundry room
• Do you feel significant relief …
– In the shower
– At the beach
– In the mountains

Reducing Exposure
• Moisture Regulation
• Controlled Ventilation
• Eliminating Sources
• Measure and Monitor
• Air and Water Purification
• Dust & Dust Mites
• Safe Sleeping Zone

Reducing Exposure
Moisture Regulation
• Why?
– Mold proliferates above 70% RH
– Dust mites prefer an RH above 50%
– VOC’s outgas more quickly with higher RH
– Increased electrical charges
with lower RH
– An RH from 35-55% provides:
• Increased Comfort
• Healthier Skin and Nasal Passages
• Energy Savings

Reducing Exposure
Moisture Regulation
• How?
– Use humidistat to measure
– Fix leaks promptly
– Use exhaust fans in bathrooms
– Install good and consistent insulation
– Right-size HVAC system
– Ensure air flow & ventilation throughout home
• Closets
• Micro-climates around windows
• Attics and basements
– Use dehumidifiers and humidifiers (w/ caution)

Top Home Health Hazards
Reducing Exposure
 Moisture Regulation
 Controlled Ventilation
 Eliminating Sources
 Measure and Monitor
 Air and Water Purification
 Dust & Dust Mites
 Safe Sleeping Zone
Questions & Answers

Reducing Exposure
Controlled Ventilation
• Why?
– Remove indoor air pollutants
– Control level of particulates in incoming air
– Reduce carbon dioxide buildup
– Circulate air for moisture regulation
– Methods
• Traditional - air exchange through
cracks and insulation gaps
• Better – tight insulation with
planned air exchange method

Reducing Exposure
• How?
– Natural ventilation – wind & stack effect
– Accidental
• Clothes dryer
• Central vacuum
• Chimney
• Leaky ducts & air return impediments
– Controlled
• Local – bathroom & kitchen exhaust fans
• General – supply ventilation (air intake) and
balanced ventilation (e.g., ERV)

Reducing Exposure
• Tips for New Construction
– Don’t leave HVAC design to build stage
– Ensure HVAC designer has experience with
your insulation method
• Correct sizing will help control moisture, and
• Will save energy/money
– Route ducts through conditioned
space

Reducing Exposure
Eliminating Sources
• Cleaning and Personal Care Products
– Avoid disinfectants, anti-bacterial products,
and artificial air fresheners
– Buy natural, biodegradable products (see
www.cosmeticdatabase.com), or
– Make your own
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Lemon Juice
• Olive Oil

Reducing Exposure
Eliminating Sources
• “Bad” VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
– Combine with Nitrogen Oxide to form Ozone
– Some are chemical irritants, carcinogenic, or
neuro-toxic
– Examples: formaldehyde, benzene, xylene,
toluene, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene
(dry cleaning compound)
• Why?
– Short-term - irritation of nose, lungs, and
throat
– Long-term - cancer
– Formaldehyde causes increased sensitivity
to all chemicals

Reducing Exposure
Eliminating Sources
• How to reduce harmful VOCs?
– Avoid products with formaldehyde
• Particle board, MDF, Plywood
• Paint and Other Finishes
• Upholstered Furniture
• Permanent Press Fabrics
• Carpeting
– Choose zero/low-VOC options
– Seal existing sources
– Air out dry cleaning before
bringing indoors
– Ventilate and filter
– Choose filtering house plants

Reducing Exposure
Eliminating Sources
• Pesticides and Insecticides
– Linked to asthma, cancer, birth
defects, learning disabilities,
ADHD, and neurological disease
• Avoid by
– Using safer methods such as traps, boric acid
diatomaceous earth, or sonic repellors
– Blocking entry by repairing screen openings
and caulking cracks and holes
– Starving out by removing water sources like
leaky faucets and cleaning up food sources
– Minimizing amounts ‘tracked in’

Reducing Exposure
Eliminating Sources
• PVCs / Phthalates
– PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride “Vinyl”
– Phthalates are plasticizers used to soften PVC
– Produce 30 mil tons/yr; 75% for construction
– May cause kidney, liver, and endocrine problems; “too
toxic” to recycle (plastic #3)
• Avoid PVCs in
– Shower curtains, mattress covers, tablecloths
– Vinyl flooring, carpeting, wallpaper,
window blinds
– PVC pipes, electrical cables
– Vinyl siding, window casings
– Baby toys and products

Top Sources
1. Mold
2. Chemicals
• Cleaning and personal care products
• Formaldehyde and other VOCs
• Pesticides and insecticides
• PVC’s/Phthalates
• Petrochemicals (synthetics, paints, finishes, fabrics)
• Chlorine & water contaminants
1. Dust and dust mites
2. Animal dander
3. Electrical pollution
4. Carbon Monoxide
5. Ozone
8. Lead
9. Asbestos
10. Radon
And…

Measure & Monitor
Tools for a Healthy Home
• Monitors
– Smoke detector
– Carbon monoxide detector
– Humidistat
• Test kits
– Mold
– Lead
– Radon
– Carbon Monoxide
– Ozone
– Asbestos
• RF/EMF detector

Measure & Monitor
Electrical Pollution
• EMF = Electric and Magnetic Fields
• May impact
– Pineal gland and production of melatonin
– Permeability of blood/brain barrier
– Dream cycles
• Levels dissipate rapidly as you move away from
source
• Common sources
– Inside: microwave ovens, hair dryers, vacuum
cleaners, televisions, computers, dimmer switches,
panel boxes, air handlers
– Outside: power lines, communication towers

Air & Water Purification
• Air Purification
– Whole-house or room/area
filtration system
– UV purification
– Central or HEPA vacuum
– Register & window filters
• Water Purification
– Whole-house
– Point of use
• Drinking Water
• Refrigerator/icemaker
• Shower and bath

Dust & Dust Mites
• Air purifiers
• Vacuum: central, HEPA filter, or water-
based
• UV wand
• Minimize carpeting
• Moisture regulation
• Bed
– Wash bed linens weekly in 130F water
– Mattress and pillow encasements, and/or
– Use latex or foam mattress & pillows

Safe Sleeping Zone
• Natural or organic bedding
– Mattress (latex is especially good)
– Pillows
– Comforter
– Bed Linens
• Zippered casings for mattress and pillows
• Move bed away from areas with
high EMF activity
• Periodically check for mold
• Air purifier
– bedroom is most important
location for air quality

Part 2: Creating a
Sustainable Home
Mary Gatch
info@dwellsmart.com
(843) 805-7055
www.dwellsmart.com

Heating & Cooling
Reduce energy consumption for heating & cooling
• Adjust thermostat
• Caulk/seal around windows, doors, outlets
• Insulate
• Passive solar
• Install efficient HVAC systems
– Geothermal
– High SEER and correctly sized
• Efficient water heating
– Solar thermal hot water
– Instant hot or continuous
– Insulate hot water pipes
• Use fans and breezes

Water Conservation
• Conserving Water = Conserving Power
– Reduced power to clean and pump water
– Reduced power for heating water
• How?
– General
• Capture and use rainwater
• Recirculate greywater
• Recirculate for instant hot
• Promptly fix leaks
– Toilets
• Use a dual-flush toilets or converters
• Use a toilet tummy or brick
– Faucets
• Turn off water when not in use
• Install low-flow faucets and aerators
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
~Thomas Fuller, 1732

Lighting & Appliances
• Choose Energy Star lighting and appliance products
• Lighting
– Use dimmer switches, timers, and motion sensors
– Switch from incandescent to more efficient bulbs
(e.g. CFL and LED)
– Take advantage of natural daylight
(e.g. windows and tubular skylights)
• Appliances
– Replace your clunkers
(government program in 2010)
• Refrigerators
• Dishwashers
• Washers & dryers
– Run full loads through dish and clothes washers
– Line dry (or use dryer balls to cut drying time by 20%)
– Unplug appliances and chargers when not in use
(use smart power strips for computer and media)

Reuse
• Minimize “Disposable”, Choose “Reusable”
• Reduce packaging
• Choose quality, long-lasting products

• Containers:
– #1 & #2 Plastic bottles rinsed with lids off
– Motor oil bottles (unrinsed with lids on)
– Steel food, aluminum, and aerosol cans
– Glass bottles and jars
• Paper products:
– Junk mail, magazines, newspaper, office paper
– Paperboard packaging (e.g. cereal boxes)
• Other items: (must be taken to convenience centers or drop sites)
– Cardboard
– Used motor oil and filters, tires, car batteries, antifreeze
– Electronics (e.g. computers), scrap metal & appliances
– Paint, used cooking oil
– Compact florescent light bulbs & tubes (CFL’s)
– Household batteries
– Old gasoline and two-stroke mix
– Propane tanks (emptied with valves removed)
Recycling
This Information is applicable to Charleston County, SC.

Composting
• Greens:
– garden waste: grass cuttings, non-woody garden
prunings, leaves, and flowers
– kitchen waste: vegetable peelings, leaves and stalks, fruit
peelings and cores, cooked table scraps, tea leaves,
coffee grounds, egg shells and bread
– herbivore manure (e.g., from vegetarian animal)
• Browns: small amounts of shredded newspaper, paper
tissues, wood fire ash, sawdust, vacuum dust, and dryer lint
• Do not put the following in your composter:
– meat or fish scraps, fats, oils, and dairy products
– Weeds or diseased plants
– large branches
– cat or dog droppings
– large amounts of pine needles
– anything else which doesn't decompose
(e.g., plastics, glass, or metals)

Q&A
• Call or e-mail Mary Gatch
– (843) 805-7055
– info@dwellsmart.com.
• Visit DwellSmart (please call for appointment)
– 146 Williman St., Charleston, SC
– www.dwellsmart.com

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