Indoor air quality is becoming an increasing concern in homes and businesses today. Many factores including chemicals used in construction materials make some new homes potentially dangerous for certain people. According to the Environmental Protection Agency there may be as much as 5 times more pollutants in indoor air as compared to the air outside.

Another factor that causes concern with indoor air quality is the way homes are constructed, being as air tight as possible for energy efficiency. Homes and businesses need to breathe just like people. The air inside a building needs to be exchanged with outside air often to rid the home of indoor air pollutants. If the air is not exchanged periodically, the indoor air quality will decline and may become hazardous.

Indoor pollutants that are common today include particles and particulate matter, allergens that are lung and nasal irritants, gases and chemicals from new carpets and manufactured goods, and volatile organic compounds that are used as cleaning compounds for floors, kitchens, and bathrooms. Other pollutants in the air you breathe everyday include dust, dust mites, pet dander, mold and mildew, bacteria, and viruses. All of these things listed tend to make your home or business a less than ideal breathing environment.

People spend 90 percent of their lives indoors. With all the advances in technology in homes and business construction, the levels of respiratory illnesses in this country are on the rise. Many more people today are reporting allergy symptoms, respiratory problems, weakened immune systems, and asthma problems. With this flag waving of how bad the air is in the homes we live and in buildings we work in, what can we change to improve the indoor air quality?

First is the easiest, just open windows every chance you get. The need to improve the indoor air quality during the winter and summer months is especially important. When you open the windows you let in fresh air and let the toxic air escape to the outdoors. During the cooler months, as long as it's not too cold we generally do like to open our windows, but in the summer it is hot and homes and business are closed up. This is when the pollutants in your indoor air build up the most.

The second thing you can do is also very easy, but there is some cost involved. You can purchase an air purifier that includes an ionizer, HEPA filter, germicidal UV lamp, and a charcoal carbon filter. Using all of these will help clear your home or business of air pollutants. To avoid buying several pieces of equipment, you can have an all-in-one purifier and air cleaner installed in your central air system.

The final thing you can do is only purchase certified green products for your home or business. If you are building a new home insist that the builder follows green standards and the same goes for businesses. There are many architecture and home construction business that offer green construction. Surprising it is not that much more expensive to incorporate green technologies to improve indoor air quality.

Following some of these guidelines will help you deal with the serious problem of indoor air quality.

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