The off-gassing issue with MDF (medium density fiberboard) comes from the use of urea-formaldehyde as a binder holding the fibers together. Your symptoms can indeed be caused by formaldehyde, but you should keep in mind that they also may arise from other contaminants or germs.

Formaldehyde off-gassing does appear to have a relationship to indoor conditions, but should actually decrease in colder temperatures. According to the FDA, “Formaldehyde tends to double its level of outgassing for every 10°F increase in temperature.” Humidity can also have an effect.

Some questions about your MDF:

• Is it exposed, or is it painted, sealed or laminated over?
• How long has it been there? Formaldehyde off-gassing will diminish over time. If it’s new, does its introduction coincide with your symptoms?
• Do you know whether your particular MDF contains formaldehyde or not? There are several manufacturers who now produce MDF with "no added formaldehyde."

Ideally, you’d try to determine if the MDF is indeed the cause of the problem. If the wood is relatively new and if it is exposed and unsealed, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends sealing the surfaces: "You may use a vapor barrier such as some paints, varnishes, or a layer of vinyl or polyurethane-like materials. Be sure to seal completely, with a material that does not itself contain formaldehyde. Many paints and coatings will emit other VOCs when curing, so be sure to ventilate the area well during and after treatment."

Another part of the remedy may be “dilution” by increasing the ventilation in the space. That doesn’t get rid of the cause of the problem, of course, and also runs the risk of increasing your heating and cooling loads, but may improve your home air quality and alleviate some of your symptoms.

This is a classic "house as a system" problem, and if I am correct, the fix will be simple and will not cost very much. Some would wonder how adding a ridge vent on the roof could create a problem with a water line in a wall. The answer is cold air is getting brought into the wall cavity and freezing the pipe.

The "stack effect" is the cause of what you have here. In simple terms, the stack effect is when warm air rises in your house. You probably have a very leaky ceiling. Seal all the gaps in your attic -- seal around all top plates, attic access, pipe and wire penetrations, can lights, etc. All the hot air is rising in your home and getting into the attic where these penetrations occur.

Once air leaves at the top, new air must be brought in at the bottom -- hence the increased amount of air entering your wall cavity. It would also help to seal up the same holes at the bottom of your house. How to do this will differ if you have a crawl space or a slab. I would of course focus on the area where you are having the problem -- there are probably large holes where the pipes enter the floor system.

Of course if you can access the pipes, it will help to put insulation on the exterior of the pipes and you could always run some heat tape on them as well.

Hiring a BPI-certified company will ensure that you have a contractor who understands the "house as a system" concept. Doing these few low-cost measures will also significantly improve your thermal envelope and reduce your energy consumption.

For more information:

Read Green Home Guide's Know-How article "9 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient."

We find this situation in homes that we provide energy audits for in Southern California. The homeowner is usually concerned about the comfort level, and this is what we typically recommend:

If the ceilling has some space between the drywall and the roof, your best bet is to "drill and fill." This is done by an insulation company that will create small holes in your ceiling or even in walls and will fill the cavity with dense-pack cellulose insulation.

If it's a post-and-beam ceiling, you can remove the roof, install rigid foam insulation from above, and then re-roof. We have had good customer feedback with both techniques.

If you choose to go ahead with one of these insulation methods, check Green Home Guide's service directory to find a green professional near you.

Amanda,

Cabinetry has two primary construction components: the carcass or box and the decorative door and drawer fronts. The boxes are typically made of plywood (with a veneer or melamine interior finish and a veneer exterior finish), particleboard (with a vinyl or melamine interior finish and a veneer exterior finish), or medium density fiberboard (MDF, with a veneer or melamine interior finish and a painted or veneer exterior finish).

Your concern about added formaldehyde is legitimate due to the fact that it is a known carcinogen, but realize that formaldehyde is a chemical compound found in nature, including wood. What you don't want is added formaldehyde.

So if you are making the cabinets yourself or having them custom-made by a local shop, you will want the cabinet-boxes constructed of a no-added-formaldehyde plywood such as PureBond from Columbia Forest Products; a no-added-formaldehyde particleboard such as SkyBlend from Roseburg Forest Products; or Sierra Pine's Arreis MDF.

As for the decorative doors and drawers, there is little variance in natural formaldehyde content between wood species. However, if you are considering a painted cabinet, you will want to select either maple or a no-added-formaldehyde MDF.

With regard to finishing your green kitchen cabinets, the most important aspect of the finish is durability. This has been a tough criterion to meet with most low-VOC finishes (note: stains typically are applied under the finish or, alternatively, you can "tint" the finish for added color enhancement).

It is extremely challenging to get a quality, particle-free, durable finish on cabinetry in a home workshop. A "factory finish" or that provided by a small professional cabinet shop will be far superior to what can be accomplished in the average home workshop.

Considering that cabinetry typically comprises 40% of a kitchen remodel budget and most people want to get the most for their home improvement dollar, my recommendation is that you leave it to the pros. However, if you are set on doing it yourself, consider AFM Safecoat's Safe Seal finish. As for stains, water-based stains such as Saman or Osmo Park Lane stains are good choices.

If you would prefer to work with a production custom manufacturer, you are in luck. The number of environmentally responsible cabinet lines continues to increase each year. Look for manufacturers who hold the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) certification from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

A few companies to consider are: Berkeley Mills, Neil Kelly Cabinets, Huntwood Industries, and WoodHarbor Premium Custom Cabinetry. Lastly, when selecting a manufacturer, look for companies that are reasonably close to your project site so that the delivery of your cabinetry purchase will have the smallest carbon footprint possible.

For more information:

Read Green Home Guide's remodel guide "Creating a Green Kitchen: From Resource Planning to Maintenance" for more information on renovating a kitchen.

It’s not often that an excellent, green and healthy wood floor adhesive shows up on the market that is formaldehyde-free, isocyanate-free, glycol-free, and almost no-VOC, but I’m happy to report that for your application, Taylor's MS Plus Wood Floor Adhesive may be a great option.

When applied to slab on grade, it acts as a moisture inhibitor as well, so you don’t need a separate sealer. It’s also easier to apply than urethane glues. For tech support and local distributors, call 800-397-4583 or go to wftaylor.com.

First, check perimeter drainage and moisture-test the slab.

It’s imperative for any wood flooring installation, even if the slab is sealed, that the slab is dry and stays dry. So be sure to have your floor installer test your slab first for moisture vapor, per the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions on the link above, to make sure it meets the requirements for this adhesive. Given that you are in Scottsdale, AZ, the water table in your local area is probably low, but it’s still best to check.

As you are in a desert environment, and a green-minded person, you probably are not irrigating much, but in general, for slab-on-grade wood floor applications, it’s prudent to make sure you also have excellent perimeter drainage from rain and irrigation. Sealing the top side of an existing slab only goes so far, because moisture next to a slab can wick into the concrete horizontally as well. For other areas of the country or on properties where rain or irrigation is not possible to completely divert, or the water table is too high, a wood floor is not a good option overall.

Finally, if your concrete slab is new, moisture testing is also imperative, to make sure enough moisture vapor has cured out of the concrete before installing wood flooring. For tips on concrete slab and moisture prevention, including for other areas of the country where moisture in slabs may be a greater concern, the Building Science Corporation provides free articles for both homeowners and professionals.

Make sure to ventilate well during and after installation.

Bamboo can be a good green flooring option, but ventilate well with as much fresh air exchange as possible for the first few months after installation, particularly if you are chemically sensitive or have small children.

I’ve been hard-pressed to find bamboo flooring that is guaranteed to be 100% phenol and urea-formaldehyde-free, and even the best-rated bamboo floors may still emit very low levels of phenol formaldehyde when new. For the lowest formaldehyde levels, look for bamboo flooring that meets the CARB 2009 and 2012 regulations, and Europe's E1 standard, is urea-formaldehyde-free and FSC certified.

If you are chemically sensitive or have small children, it would also be prudent to ask the manufacturer if the finish is biocide-free and has a no-VOC, UV-cured, baked-on finish, so that potentially toxic glycol chemicals in the finish (which are exempt from being classified as VOCs) will have completely outgassed prior to installation.

If you are sensitive to odors, call the flooring manufacturer for a new sample before you make your final decision. Keep in mind that although aluminum oxide finishes are generally healthy, if the floor is refinished in the future, the aluminum particles from sanding may release potentially toxic levels of aluminum into the indoor environment, and so special deep-cleaning, equivalent to lead-paint remediation, may be necessary after refinishing.

For more information:

Read Mary Cordaro's Ask A Pro Q&A, "Is bamboo flooring with aluminum oxide finish considered a green choice?"

Proponents of the Green movement insist that making environmentally conscious decisions will not only encourage a safe and ecologically friendly atmosphere, but are good for business and will also save money in the end, thanks to a streamlined spending structure.

Five schools across the country have become LEED certified in order to provide the cleanest and most energy-efficient learning environments for their students.

Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, CO has been certified LEED Silver. By following standards outlined by the USGBC, the Poudre School District saved about $11,500 annually on their water bill. They also incorporated as much natural light as possible, simultaneously saving money on artificial light and creating a more favorable learning environment for students.

Sidwell Friends Middle School in Washington, D.C. received a LEED Platinum certification, the highest award a school has received from the USGBC. They constructed an artificial wetland in between the new and old wings of the school, which serves a dual purpose: allow for efficient, recyclable water, and provide a hands-on learning environment for science classes. Solar panels and natural light systems take full advantage of sunlight while saving on energy costs.

Clearview Elementary in Hanover, PA - certified LEED Gold - is also bathed in natural light thanks to huge windows along its long corridors. According to studies by the California Board for Energy Efficiency, tests scores were 15%-26% higher in classrooms with plenty of natural light versus classrooms with lower levels of sunlight.

Rosa Parks Elementary in Portland, OR - certified LEED Gold - selected paints, carpets adhesives and sealants were selected for their low carbon emissions.

Finally, the LEED certified West Brazos Junior High School in Brazoria, TX, saved 18% on construction costs compared to the average middle school while using 55% locally manufactured materials.

Going Green doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. Whether you have a home you’re looking to turn Green or a local school you’d like to recommend, it can be affordable with government Green tax credits and debt consolidation.  With some smart planning and energy efficiency, any school can become the next LEED-certified school.

Go Green Expo has organized the first annual Northeast Green Building & Design Show, coming up this October 8th and 9th at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center.

The event, which is targeted towards both building industry professionals (10/8 and 10/9) and homeowners (10/9 only), will showcase energy-efficient and environmentally responsible products and services.  Additionally, the event will feature a variety of interactive seminars from leaders in green building and design.  Think of it as a more navigable version of GreenBuild.

Tickets are only $10 in advance (www.gogreenexpo.com) or $20 at the door.

Special thanks to Chelsea Gleis from Organic Works PR for the event information.

The USGBC has awarded a LEED EB O&M Sliver certification to the BASF Construction Chemicals - Building Systems headquarters in suburban Minneapolis.

The 50,879 square foot Shakopee, Minnesota facility was originally constructed in 1972 and has since three renovations and one major addition.  Highlights of the LEED-approved program include landfill waste reduction, an improvement of IAQ for the 100+ on-site employees and a sustainable purchasing program.

“As a supplier of products and solutions to this market, our decision to certify our building is an outward expression of our commitment, and has allowed us to more fully understand what it takes to participate in green and sustainable construction and renovation projects,” said Doug MacRae, Head of Building Systems.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.  BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008.

The University of Minnesota Gophers’ new 58,800-seat football stadium has been awarded LEED Silver by the USGBC.    The Minneapolis venue was designed by Populous is officially named TCF Bank Stadium and hosted its first game on September 12th to rave reviews from fans and players.

During a two year construction period, general contracted by M.A. Mortensen Construction Co., the following sustainable features were incorporated:

• 90% recycled steel, primarily locally produced
• A high Albedo roof system
• Low-VOC paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives.
• A comprehensive storm water management system that harvests, filters and drains runoff to the Mississippi River.

The project also achieved a 50% reduction of potable water use in landscaping (30% indoor use reduction) and diverted 98 percent of construction waste from landfills.  Further, in a testament to the true sustainable nature of the facility,  it can be expanded to just over 80,000 seats.

Take a virtual tour of this impressive stadium at http://stadium.gophersports.com.

Metal roofing is an often-overlooked product to help (i) attain LEED credits and (ii) produce a more sustainable building.  While the material can’t be used in every circumstance, it does greatly assist when it can.

Specifically Applicable LEED 2009 Credits:

SS 7.2 Heat Island Effect: Roof - High albedo metal roofing can significantly contribute to the 75 requirement of this credit.

MR 4.1/4.2 Recycled Content: 10%/20% - Metal roofing can contain a high percentage of recycled content, assisting in total RC totals.

MR 2.1/2.2 Construction Waste Management: Divert 50%/75% from Disposal - Any excess material is easily recycled, elevating the percentage of recycled construction waste.

MR 5.2/5.2 Regional Materials: 10% / 20% - Properly purchased metal materials assists in the regional materials credit.

MR 1.1 Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof - Depending on age, it may be possible to reuse the actual roofing material but, given the longer useful life of a properly maintained metal roof vs. a traditional roof, the roof decking may be in better condition.

Other Sustainable Benefits:

There are also some benefits that, while not directly related to LEED, should be considered from a sustainability perspective.  First, length of service.  Metal roofing materials generally also have a longer warranty (up to 50 years) and, again, useful life than a traditional roof system.   Secondly, at the end of this longer useful life, the roofing materials are more easily recycled than traditional materials.  Today, the materials can, in many cases, be hauled off for free.

Special thanks to Adam from GreenIsGlobal.net for the post idea.  Be sure to check out his metal and solar laminate roofing blog.

Bounce Energy is always looking for new and innovative ways to provide value for our customers. That’s why we’re pleased to offer our customers BounceEnergyDeals.com.

Bounce Energy Deals is a place for customers to find the biggest discounts and best deals on the internet. If you’re looking for the best place to get your home connected with satellite television, phone, and internet, Bounce Energy Deals is the place to start. Bounce Energy Deals can also help you find local professionals to help you with projects around your home or to do a home energy audit. You’ll also find coupons for grocery stores, restaurants, and gift cards to department stores at a discounted price.

Start saving today and check out BounceEnergyDeals.com.

Bounce Energy is taking another step to make the Earth a greener place by making paperless billing available to its customers. Customers now have the option to receive their bill online instead of in the mail. Each month, you’ll receive an email notification saying your statement is ready to view online. No more having walk to your the mailbox to get your electricity bill; now all it takes is to log into your Bounce Energy account.

By signing up with paperless bills, you’ll eliminate the necessity of having to write checks, the need for stamps and envelopes. 38,500 paper bills is equivalent to one ton of paper. If 38,500 customers switch to paperless billing, they’ll save close to 16,450 gallons of water, 1,941 pounds of solid waste, and 5,058 pounds of green house gasses.

The convenience and ease is a major benefit of paperless billing. For customers who are interested in reducing paper wastes and the energy associated with paper billing, they should sign up for paperless billing by logging into their Bounce Energy account.

The Bounce Energy Terrific 12 energy plan is a 12-month fixed rate plan for customers who are looking to lock in a low energy rate for 12 billing cycles.

If you don’t know which Bounce Energy plan to choose from, here are some highlights of Terrific 12:

• You don’t have to worry about your rate fluctuating because your electric rate will be locked in for the next 12 months.
• You’ll have the peace of mind knowing you’re protected from rising energy prices.
• You’ll get rewarded for on-time bill payments.

That’s right, don’t worry about your energy rate for the next year by signing up with a low fixed rate plan.

Aside from reliable electric service at a low rate, you will get a choice of 5 different gift cards, compliments of Bounce Energy. You can choose from popular retailers such as GAP, Target, and Wal-Mart, or you can choose a Shell gift card or a $25 bill credit from bounce Energy. In addition to the gift card, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Bounce Energy Rewards Program where you’ll receive even more bonuses. For on-time bill payments, you can receive movie tickets, a companion airline ticket, access to our VIP customer service line, bill credits, and even a free month of electricity.

If you’d like an energy rate you can rely on for the next 12 months and be rewarded for paying your bills on time, choose the Bounce Energy Terrific 12 plan.

Moving to a new home for most is exciting.  However, Ive noticed that once the excitement wears off, you are left with the overwhelming realization of all the chores that lie ahead.  After just going through a move myself, I know how intense moving can be.  So, to help you with this matter, I suggest you read an article from Bounce Energy titled, 10 Steps to a Smoother Move This Summer.  It should improve your moving experience by making it more manageable and less stressful.

A quick glance @LetsGoGreenBiz from the window of my twitter feed shows a common theme:

Green products … and lots of them.

The eco-commerce shopping site at LetsGoGreen.biz features a wide array of everyday home and office products, from natural dog and cat treats to bamboo coasters and plates. The home page displays featured items of the month, including particular sales items for the thrift-concious shopper, and the product categorization overall is relatively straightforward (making it easier to hone in on the type of green product you are looking for).

Pricing options are actually quite varied. For example, the Compostable Sugarcane Clamshell Containers range from a 25-ct pack for $5.19 to $94.69 for a 500-ct case.

LetsGoGreen.biz ships domestically within all 50 States and Puerto Rico, and also offers wholesale discounts to businesses looking to “go green.”

Everyone loves infographics! Here's one from Infrastructurist.com about ways people in different cities commute to work.

It seems that there are certain times of the year where my allergies seem worse than others. I've also noticed that I'm not the only person in the household who is affected by allergies, so is my seven month old daughter. I've heard that one way to help with indoor allergies is to use an air purifier because it removes allergens from the air. After looking around, I found an interesting and innovative air purifier that looks different then all of the rest. 

 

It's called the Andrea Air Purifier and it absorbs toxic gases from your home or office. The difference is  that it removes toxins in the air by using live plants. This purifier is designed to work with any live household plant and can work in any room in the house (I kill plants like it's a sport so this sounds like a good solution for me and our poor plants). It works by drawing air in with a quiet fan and then moves the air through the plant's leaves and root system. Next the air is pushed through the water and soil and then finally is pushed back into the room. Not only is it ozone-free, which helps the environment, but it biochemically transforms and eliminates waste and pollution instead of only collecting it through filters like other purifiers.