Green Paradigm Pushing Asbestos Out of the Home
Posted by on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at 8:48pm..jpg)
As the saying goes, “There's nothing half as pleasant as coming home again.”The path to owning a home is an exciting time that will bring many rewards for you and your family. It will also require additional responsibilities. Homes may also need to be repaired or renovated in areas that are susceptible for natural disasters. Older homes or buildings that were built prior to 1980 may still harbor obsolete methods of construction, including asbestos. A fibrous mineral used through the majority of the 20th century, asbestos can still appear in piping, insulation, flooring and roofing.
Aside from a strong mining industry, asbestos entered the state of Florida in many industrial and domestic products. Potential Boca Raton home buyers and those remodeling older homes should know that asbestos exposure is easily preventable by taking simple precautions. Many healthy alternatives now exist that make the use of older construction materials obsolete.
If any asbestos is suspected, the best advice is to leave it un-disturbed. Touching or breaking it off may cause it to become damaged and release its fibers into the air. Sometimes the best action is no action. The frequent inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause a rare lung ailment known as mesothelioma, that accounts for three percent of cancer diagnoses in the U.S. With no mesothelioma cure, patient prognosis is usually poor. Age of diagnosis and cigarette smoking are factors that impact how a patient responds to mesothelioma treatments.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is a public organization that administers a program strictly dealing with asbestos removal. They have also been instrumental in educating the public in how to identify asbestos insulation. The FDEP provides an immense library of information that all involved in real estate should consider.
If asbestos materials are suspected, a home inspector can determine the proper course of action. If asbestos removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous materials. Removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
Many cities and states are implementing green strategies to reduce carbon footprints, save energy and maintain healthy homes. The use of recycled building materials such as cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose are viable alternatives to asbestos. A water based spray polyurethane foam, lcynene is becoming a favorite for healthy insulation, containing no toxic components.
Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods. Conducting a study in 2003, the United States Green Building Council reported a savings of $50 to $65 for green constructed buildings. These new environmentally-sustainable alternatives create healthier, quieter and more energy efficient homes in the 21st century.
Print
Share
