Indoor Air Quality | The Dangers of Dust Mites | UV Lights
Energy Savings and Efficiency | Radiant Barrier | Insulation Information
Indoor air can pose a serious risk to you and your family. Extensive studies conducted by a wide range of agencies (including the EPA) have proven that the air contained within your home is anywhere between 2 to TEN times more hazardous than outdoor air. In fact, the EPA has stated that indoor air quality is the United States' number ONE environmental health problem.
You may be wondering what's in the air to make it so hazardous.
According to the EPA all of the following are found within indoor air:
- Radon (Rn) - Contributes to over 7,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
- Dead Skin Cells, Dust Mites, Mold Spores, and Fungi (Biologicals)
- Organic Gases from Common Household Products that
over time can cause internal organ damage - Cancer causing agents that affect both humans and animals
- Formaldehyde (emitted from wood furniture and cabinets)
- & over 350 different allergy producing air pollutants/contaminants
 The dust you can see in the air is over 80% dead human skin, the main staple of the Dust Mite. Each speck of dust carries around 40 THOUSAND dust mites, and each year a 1,500 sq ft home will produce approximately 40 pounds of dust. When you are breathing the air inside your home you are inhaling large quantities of dust mite fecal material and cast skins. In fact, EPA studies have shown that the most potent house dust allergens can be extracted from the feces produced by dust mites. There are ways of decreasing the impact dust mites have on your family. The first is a good air filtration system within your HVAC unit. Media air filters can greatly reduce the allergens in the air caused by dust mites. You also have the option of a UV Light, which uses ultra-violet light to kill the microbes that pass through it, including dust mites. |
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Indoor Air Quality Experts carries both Media Air Filters and UV Lights, and we can professionally install them for you.
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The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of ultraviolet light with simultaneous use of air filters for best air purification within the home.
The U.S. government now specifies that UV light should be used in air handling units to improve indoor air quality in government buildings, by controlling airborne and surface microbial growth.
The Air Institute of Respiratory Education suggests UV lights be used in buildings for indoor air quality purposes, and states that they may be the final line of defense against those diseases that have developed resistance to drugs, such as tuberculosis and others.
There are a number of things you can do to increase the energy efficiency within your home. One step in the right direction is to use Energy Star rated appliances, but there are even more ways to save you money when it comes to energy costs.
In the February 2007 issue of Family Circle magazine, Virginia Sole-smith writes that the average American household spends $1,900 annually in her article entitled "Make Your Home More Energy Efficient" (p.40). The good news however is that by making some simple changes you can potentially save up to $1,000 dollars a year. Here are the recommendations from Family Circle magazine:
- Ceiling Fans - Using the same amount of electricity as a 100-watt bulb, fans allow you to lower the thermostat to help save you money.
- Upgrade Your Thermostat - You may not have known, but thermostats also greatly affect your energy costs. Switch to a programmable thermostat with an Energy Star seal. You can find recommended models on energystar.gov
- Change Lightbulbs - Make the switch from standard bulbs to the "curly" ones. (They're called CFL's) They may look more expensive than normal bulbs at first glance, but after the money you save on energy costs you actually pocket around $30.00 per bulb.
Did you know? Scientific American states that when a baby crawls on the floor he or she inhales the equivalent of 4 cigarettes a day as a result of mildews, molds, fungi, dust mites, etc. 
To understand what Radiant Barrier does, you must first understand Radiant Heat. Radiant Heat is the primary source of heat energy given off by a heat source. The sun gives off radiant heat and so does the human body. When the light of the sun is hitting the top of your home, radiant heat is penetrating your roof. It travels down through the attic, insulation, and finally into your living space.
It is a common misconception that radiant heat is stopped by insulation. Typical home insulation such as foam or fiberglass only protects from conductive and convection heat, not radiant heat which is the responsible for approximately 90% of the collected heat in your home during the hot summer months. In fact, 97% of radiant heat travels right through the insulation in your ceilings.
That's where Radiant Barrier comes in. Radiant barrier is a reflective product that can be installed under your roof deck or on top of your attic's insulation to reflect radiant heat waves away from your living space. By having radiant barrier installed in your home you can reduce summer heat gain within your living space by as much as 97%. Without radiant barrier, more heat is getting into your home, which means your air conditioner must work harder to keep up with radiant heat. You'll end up paying more in energy costs, and your home will not remain at a constant temperature or be as comfortable as it could be. Not only that, but the harder your HVAC unit must work, the shorter its overall lifespan.
Radiant Barrier also has another function. In winter your radiant barrier will help keep much needed warmth inside your living space, up to 75% of the heat generated by your HVAC system. It's very similar to the way you use aluminum foil over a plate of cooked food to keep it warm or when you use a thermos for hot coffee. Radiant Barrier is a useful money-saver no matter what the season. Some customers have saved as much as 40% on their monthly heating and cooling bills when using this product.
The following is a diagram of two homes. The home on the left is using Radiant Barrier. The home on the right is not:
As you can see from the home on the right, radiant heat waves are penetrating the roof and even the insulation right into the family's living space. The radiant barrier used in the home on the left however is reflecting all of that heat right back out again, leaving the inside of the home much cooler.
Many people have asked if radiant barrier can be used instead of insulation. The answer is No. You will save the most money in energy costs when you use insulation partnered with radiant barrier. It is strongly recommended that you use bulk insulation in your attic and walls to help prevent condensation and air infiltration.
Insulation is important in every living space to help maintain a more efficient home. There are many different types of insulation available for residential construction, and for the average consumer it can become confusing pretty quickly.
When it comes to insulation one of the most important things for a consumer to know is the R-value of their insulation. The R-value is the rating that indicates the insulation's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value the more effective your insulation is.
The R-value is determined by many factors including the type of insulation, the material it is made out of, the thickness and density of the material, etc. When using multiple layers of insulation, you simply add the R-values of each layer to determine your overall R-value. Remember, the higher this vlaue, the more efficient your home will be.
The effectiveness of your insulation is also dependent on where it is installed. For example, insulation that is compressed within your walls is not as effective as blown insulation in your attic, because insulation that is compressed will not provide its full R-value rating.
Even if you just bought a brand new home, your living space may not be effectively insulated. That is because the industry standard is set lower than the recommended amount of insulation you should have. Building codes differ state by state, but for the majority of new home owners, the amount of insulation in your home is less than recommended for maximum efficiency.
For the Dallas/Ft. Worth area the United States Energy Department recommends the following R-values* for your insulation:
| If your HVAC is | Attic | Walls | Floor |
| Electric | R-Value 49 | R-Value 11 | R-Value 25 |
| Gas/Heat Pump | R-Value 38 | R-Value 11 | R-Value 11 |
* Values calculated for pre-existing, wood frame homes.
To calculate the R-values for your home click here.
There is a very simple test to see if you need more insulation in your attic. Take a standard 12-inch wooden or plastic ruler up to your attic during the evening or before sunrise. Locate an area of your attic that is covered in insulation. Make sure this area does not have electrical cables running underneath. Hold the end of your ruler and stick it straight down into your insulation. If you have fiberglass insulation, you may want to wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt to avoid skin irritation. Make sure your ruler is not hitting a support beam which in most homes would be a 2x4 piece of wood. Can you lower your ruler all the way down to the ceiling and completely cover it with insulation? If you can still see a part of your ruler then you need more insulation in your attic. It is recommended that you have at least 12 inches (18 inches is ideal) throughout your attic space.
Here is a diagram illustrating proper
and improper insulation levels within your attic:
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