Eco Friendly Radiant Heating

Many of us have forced hot air heating systems in our homes. It might have crossed your mind in the winter just how inefficient this method of heating is. Forced 'hot' air they call it? More like barely lukewarm, not to mention that the registers are often placed in the ceiling plane or high on a wall, resulting in cold drafty floors and all your heat escaping through the ceiling before it heats the room. Whoever came up with this system should be ashamed. It does not even follow any basic common sense laws of physics. Should we take into account the poor quality of indoor air that this system creates?

Fortunately there are much better alternatives, radiant heating has been a growing trend. While installation can be costly, it will pay for itself with the money you will save on heating. Radiant floor heat creates a very comfortable indoor environment, it also makes complete sense by all laws of physics. Since hot air rises, a heated floor will distribute it evenly in the entire space and you can say good bye to drafts! Moreover, this kind of heating is great for homes with kids, pets, and people with allergies as it does not create airborne pollutants.

Landry & Arcari Clearance and Carpet Benefits

Another winterizing tip: carpet your floors. While carpet may not always be the best option for homes with pets, young kids, and people with environmental allergies, it is great if your household does not fit into any of the above categories. Good quality carpeting can last a long time and provide significant thermal benefits in cold New England winters. There are also many sustainable options available on the market today if you are concerned about formaldehyde or other off gassing substances. Wool, though more expensive, is one of the best carpeting materials simply because it has unparalleled thermal properties, is naturally water repellent, and is a natural material. By their very nature, wool carpets and rugs are good for the indoor environment. That's because wool, unlike synthetic fibers, rapidly absorbs common contaminants in indoor air like formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Not only does wool keep the air free of many harmful pollutants, it will not re-emit them, even when heated. In fact, it has been estimated that wool carpets can continually purify indoor air for up to 30 years!

There is actually evidence that wool carpeting might help with allergies. It is not immediately apparent, but hard flooring lets the dust freely and constantly move around, which might trigger allergy attacks unless kept absolutely dustless everyday. Carpeting on the other hand can trap allergens and not let them escape, prohibiting the movement of particles in the air, and when regularly cleaned with a HEPA and CRI Green Label vacuum that does not release allergens back into the air it can create a more controlled environment for people with allergies.

CHECK OUT THE LANDRY & ARCARI WINTER CLEARANCE: JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 1st in Boston and Salem, MA

Eco Friendly Cellulose Insulation

Most US homes are insulated with fiberglass. What’s the problem with fiberglass insulation? Fiberglass can escape from the insulation, filling the air with the equivalent of microscopic shards of glass. If inhaled, these tiny particles of glass can inflict damage to the lungs. What’s more, fiberglass is considered to be a probable carcinogen by National Institutes of Health. Children are at greater risk than adults when exposed, because they breathe more air – and whatever it contains.

Until recently, the other insulation options consisted of cotton, wool, and petroleum based cellulose insulation. Now you can have the same benefits of cellulose insulation - at the same cost, but without the unfavorable petroleum aspect. Soy-based blow-in insulation is made from a byproduct - oil left over after the beans are crushed to make foodstuff, cosmetics, and other products, that until now was waste. Unlike fiberglass, soybean insulation is non-carcinogenic, has no off-gassing (VOCs, CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehyde). It eliminates mold and allergens, and is rodent and insect resistant. It also boasts very high sound attenuation properties. Soy based blow-in insulation will make your house stand out from the crowd both in energy savings (50-70% more than fiberglass) and the health of your indoor air. There are also tax credits and rebate programs from energy providers that can help you offset the costs of the investment in soy-based insulation (for the year 2009).

The leading company for soy-based insulation in the Northeast is The Green Cocoon, contact them for more information if you are interested in this insulation for your home or business. You can also visit BioBased, the manufacturer, to find a dealer near you or to find more answers to your questions.

Snowy New England: winterizing your home

It is the end of December in New England and suddenly those energy bills don't look so harmless. Before you get upset at the record snowfall though, consider the benefits of the white flakes. If your roof is in good condition and well insulated, snow will only act as another layer of effective insulation. The air spaces between the snow crystals in a blanket of loosely packed snow serve as insulation - a deep-freeze duvet - for your home.

We all know about the obvious weatherproofing techniques and products: double pane windows, insulation, a caulk gun, weatherstripping. What about some things that can help but are less obvious? Whether your house has a basement or you are situated on a slab, consider an area rug for the tiled bathrooms and/or kitchen, even if it is there only for the winter. Check power outlets and recessed lights as those can often leak air. Keep your blinds open on sunny days to take advantage of solar gain. For your heating system to run efficiently be sure to replace the filter regularly. Consider investing in a high quality storm door that does not leak air when you are bringing in groceries and have the entry door open.

Depending on the electricity costs in your area you may also look into an electric fireplace for certain rooms in the house. It enables you to lower the overall heat in the home while maintaining a comfortable temperature in rooms you occupy most. Of course this would likely not be efficient in a small apartment, but can have a significant impact in a large home, especially if you have kids away at college and many unused rooms.