Purifying The Air in Your Home - Part 3

     Going 'green' is as much about your health as it is about saving our planet. The more we work toward green living the more we see our overall health improve. This is shown by the past two blogs I have written on the subject of 'purifying the air in our homes'. In this blog I will share four more tips given by the American Lung Association that can improve our health.
      First: There is no such thing as a 'hypoallergenic' pet.
Pet allergies can come from an animal's saliva, urine, feces and dead skin cells, so no pet is truly hypoallergenic. If someone in your family has pet allergies, then you need to keep your pet outdoors. Moving your pet outdoors can reduce exposure to these allergens. If your pet is a cat, cat allergens can stay in place for 20 weeks or more.
     Now I know, some of our four legged babies have to stay indoors most of the time, like mine does. So, in that case it would be good to keep them away from sleeping rooms. Clean your floors and upholstered furniture frequently, (two or more times a week) will help keep allergens at bay.
     Second: Kill Dust Mites

Dust allergies are actually allergies to dust mites - microscopic pests that need moisture to survive. Many authorities have concluded that breathing dust mite allergens can cause asthma in children. Dust mites feed on human skin and live in bedding, pillows, mattresses, stuffed toys, upholstery and carpets.
     To fight dust mites: Keep your humidity level below 50% indoors. Intense vacuuming and steam cleaning of upholstered furniture will help. Remove carpets altogether and replace with hard surfaces. Using dust-mite resistant covers and washing your bedding in very hot water may help as part of a comprehensive approach.
     Third: Don't Disturb Asbestos - Call a Professional
Asbestos is still found in many older homes. Inhaling asbestos fibers can increase the risk of lung cancer and other lung problems. Asbestos is lurking on pipe coverings, flooring, shingles, and roofs. Don't try to remove asbestos yourself. Call a professional. In some cases, asbestos is best, if left undisturbed.

     Fourth: Protect Kids From Bad Air On the School Bus
It is quite easy for our children to be breathing high levels of pollution inside their school bus, including diesel exhaust, fine particles and carcinogens. Older buses often produce high levels of a wide list of pollutants, sometimes higher then outside the bus.
The best thing you can do is to advocate for the use of clean diesel school buses. While all buses emit pollution, buses with cleaner equipment installed, reduce the amount of pollution. Good for our kids and good for the planet.

     I hope you keep following my blogs, and picking up a few tips that you find usefull. More blogs can be found at www.hvaccomfortguyjerry@blogspot.com, or check our website at, www.greensheating.com.