Connecticut Green Alternatives & Asbestos Prevention
Please Pay It Forward!!
I attended Rain Camp all day yesterday -- WHAT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF GREAT INFORMATION! Well Done!! I enjoyed every minute! Rain Camp is an event run by the Active Rain (it's a real estate site) group. It's focus yesterday was on the new social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and how to use them to our benefit. I certainly learned a lot, but also know how much I do not know......
I returned home on the shuttle (first time - I'll admit I was nervous...) from Grand Central, and then the Metro-North train (first time for me- we always drive in), getting off in Norwalk, CT - then the drive to Wilton.... to find a request for me to send out a blog.
I received an email from a fellow named Paul James at the Mesothelioma Center for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. He is the National Awareness Coordinator (paul@asbestos.com), and was asking me to please pass on this information about asbestos in our homes in my blogs. He had read my blogs, and said he thought that if I would put this information into my blog, it would be spread to a greater number of the viewing public. That is just what they had been discussing at the event yesterday.
An absolutely wonderful opportunity to pass on some important and relevant information.
As we get further and further away from the era when asbestos was more common, fewer and fewer new home owners are aware of the dangers hidden in asbestos. So many of the homes around us contain asbestos, in popcorn ceilings, insulation, heating systems, siding, roofing, linoleum, and many more areas we never think of. So many people just change the flooring without realizing that they are ripping up asbestos, and then just take it to the dump - another NO-NO! There are ways and places to dispose of asbestos. If you suspect that your home may have asbestos, and you would like to remove it, please take care of you and the environment for our children, and DO IT PROPERLY! Just send an email to Paul (above) and he will guide you.
So, in hopes that you will take the time to read this through, and hopefully even pay it forward to some friends, I am writing this into a blog for all to share.
PAY IT FORWARD!!!
Connecticut Green Alternatives & Asbestos Prevention
Asbestos in your home
Located in the Northeastern part of the United States, Connecticut is one of the top states to call home. The path to purchasing a home is one of the more exciting and rewarding times in one’s life, but it is also one that can bring additional responsibilities into play. Many older homes may need inspections, renovations and additional repairs. With several things on the agenda, having the assistance of a reliable and honest Connecticut real estate agent will make this process easy and stress free.
Unaware to many home buyers, many homes built prior to 1980 may still contain obsolete building materials such as asbestos that can potentially cause severe health risks. Building or remodeling your homes with eco-friendly materials can lower utility and water bills, achieve federal tax credits, higher real estate value, purer air quality, reduced waste sent to landfills and conservation of natural resources.
Asbestos
Asbestos is the name given for a group of fibrous minerals that were mined for their qualities as fire resistant, insulation and high durability. Asbestos may still appear in roof shingles, dry wall, attic insulation, popcorn ceilings, joint compounds and electrical wires. It’s flame resistant and durable qualities made it an ideal choice for many industries. Homes built before 1980 may still contain asbestos materials. There are now many eco-sustainable options that make the use of asbestos obsolete.
Tips & Important Info
If any asbestos is located in your home, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed until a home inspector can determine the best course of action. In many situations, the best action is no action. Asbestos that is disturbed or damaged due to age is known as “friable” asbestos. This is a concern because its toxic fibers can easily circulate and become inhaled. The removal of asbestos must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling dangerous materials.
Although asbestos exposure does not always lead a related illness, long term inhalation of its fibers can cause a rare but severe ailment known as malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos-related illnesses may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure, which makes mesothelioma diagnosis even more difficult.
The removal of asbestos must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling dangerous materials. They work under state and federal regulations to ensure no health concerns arise from improper removal.
Green Building
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is committed to protecting the public from asbestos-containing materials by educating and assisting with asbestos removal, transport and disposal. The removal of hazardous substances must be performed by professional abatement contractors who are trained in these matters. Eco-friendly options must be considered when the removal is complete.
Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. By building green, you will immediately see the multitude of positive health, economic and environmental benefits, such as: conserving natural resources, energy sustainability, increased property value and improve your quality of life.
Environmentally safe alternatives to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lycnene and cellulose. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. Research has demonstrated that the use of eco-friendly insulation alternatives can reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent. There is no need for any products used in construction to be made from asbestos, yet over 3,000 work and home-based materials still contain this toxin.
Connecticut Green Alternatives & Asbestos Prevention
Please take the time to pay it forward!!!
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