Clearing the Air

For those of us that want to have the air we breathe in our homes be as clean as possible, air purifiers are an appealing solution. Most of the new ‘green’ buildings that are going up have very sophisticated air exchange systems but it’s easy to retrofit your current home too! Air purifiers can help alleviate some air quality problems, such as dust, pollen, allergens and mold spores. While there are limits to their effectiveness they can certainly improve your air quality. They do not remove VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) but you can control that with the paints and varnishes you use. Air purifiers can not remove combustion gases from the air, and are ineffective at eliminating all of the toxins in tobacco smoke.

If you decide to buy an air purifier, you can choose either a whole-house or room unit. Consumer Reports recommends whole-house purifiers if you have forced-air heating or cooling systems: systems that use recirculated air rather than air pulled in from the outside. Otherwise, room air purifiers work almost as well. The best measure of air-purifier effectiveness is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) certification system established by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. The higher the number, the better the cleaning rate. Consumer Reports considers ratings above 350 excellent and those below 100 poor.

If that seemed a bit dry, maybe some information on humidifiers will help. Humidifiers increase humidity levels in your home, helping eliminate the dry air that can irritate the passages in the nose and throat and exacerbate dry skin. If you live in a house a humidifier/dehumidifier can be attached to your heating and cooling systems. Just remember to drain and clean your humidifier frequently to avoid the growth of bacteria. Consumer Reports has a handy humidifier rating section. Among other things, they recommend that you choose a model with a humidistat, which shuts the humidifier off when the set level is reached, so the humidity level doesn't get too high. Remember, moist air is good; a moist house is not!

NYC Makes Big Green Plans

Yesterday, the New York City Council passed legislation to require the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the city. The legislation, which is knows as the Climate Protection Act, is meant to strengthen PlaNYC 2030, the mayor's plan to green New York, by putting the force of law behind its goal to reduce the city's emission of greenhouse gases. The bill establishes benchmarks that the city must reach, including a 30 percent reduction in emissions made by city operations by 2017 and a 30 percent reduction in emissions citywide by 2030. The bill requires annual emission inventories and reports, as well as public education and outreach programs.

PlaNYC 2030, New York City's ambitious plan to green the city in the next two decades, was released by the Office of the Mayor earlier this year. Several components of this plan, including property tax abatement for certain green elements, have direct implications to homeowners in the city. A few things to keep in mind when buying or renovating:

Energy Efficiency
New York City is completing its first major revision
to the building code in nearly 40 years, with adoption expected in this summer. The new code will include a number of green elements, including rebates for some green building features, requirements for cool (white) roofs and energy code certification, and more stringent ventilation standards. The City also plans to create a property tax abatement for solar panel installations.

Air Quality
As part of an initiative to reduce the emissions of greenhouse and other harmful gases, the City plans to waive its sales tax on the cleanest, most efficient vehicles. It will also lower the maximum sulfur content in heating fuel from 2000 ppm (parts per million) to 500 ppm.

Green Roof Incentives
Starting this year, New York City will also begin providing incentives for green roofs. The City is enacting a property tax abatement to off-set 35% of the installation cost of a green roof. Through this program, the City expects to reduce energy use (green roofs are insulating) as well as storm-water runoff. The pilot incentive will sunset in five years, so get those green roofs built!

To learn more about this initiative, go to the PlaNYC2030 website.