Insulate Safely

One of the gentlemen at Asbestos.com sent me this article in hopes of educating people on the dangers of in-home asbestos.

One thing I found out last night, doing other research is that asbestos is in asphalt shingles as well.

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. Used throughout the 20th century, asbestos became one of most sought after building applications in the world. The state of New York contains three naturally occurring locations of asbestos.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, about 400 public facilities, job sites and oil refineries are still known to have asbestos exposure issues. These cities include Brooklyn, Bronx, Long Island, Manhattan, Albany, Rochester, Staten Island and others.

Potential New York home buyers and those remodeling older homes should know that asbestos exposure is easily preventable by taking simple precautions. Many healthy, green alternatives now exist that make the use of older construction materials obsolete.

Homes and buildings built prior to 1980 still may contain asbestos-containing materials. Although not all asbestos can be toxic, damaged asbestos fibers can be released into the air, which can lead to the development of rare, but severe health ailments such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma treatment is limited to a handful of options, but new diagnostic procedures are being tested specifically for detecting diseases such as mesothelioma. The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the last century has lead to mesothelioma lawyers advocating and protecting victims’ rights. The asbestos and corporate industries were aware of the health hazards involved with asbestos, but continued the widespread manufacturing of the substance anyways. Millions of people have been wrongfully exposed for financial gain.

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. , 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. The New York Division of Safety and Health oversees the abatement of toxic hazards such as asbestos during remodeling, reconstruction or demolition. They enforce state and federal laws regarding the safe disposal and removal of asbestos.

Many cities and states are implementing green strategies to reduce carbon footprints, save energy and maintain healthy homes. Many eco friendly alternatives exist that replace the need for asbestos. These include cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Not only do these healthy substitutes provide the same qualities as asbestos, they can even reduce annual energy costs.
Conducting a study in 2003, the United States Green Building Council reported a savings of $50 to $65 for green constructed buildings. A water based spray polyurethane foam, lcynene is becoming a favorite for healthy insulation, containing no toxic components. These options allow for a safe, environmentally sustainable home, free of any health corroding materials.

Please look at this diagram closely - click on it to enlarge in a separate window. It will help you identifity where there are possible asbestos issues within your home. Understand that asbestos that is NOT disturbed will not harm you. It's only when it is dust or particulate form that it is so dangerous.

Saving Natural Gas in The Home

http://www.waterloo.il.us/BulletinBoard/HowToSaveNaturalGas.pdf
Heating Your Home
Keep your thermostat low. Each extra degree adds about 4% to 5% to your heating bill. When you leave for the day or over the weekend, lower the setting about 5°. For longer absences, lower the thermostat to 55° (but don’t set it lower because your pipes may freeze).
(if you have a boiler type heating unit, it wastes money and gas to lower the temperature for less than 6-8 hours)
Don’t place furniture in front of heating registers.
Open draperies on sunny days to allow sunlight to help heat your home. Close them at night to help keep out the cold.

Hot Water Heater
A water heater setting of "Normal" or "Low" is usually sufficient. (I do not advocate lowering the temperature below 140 degrees. Food industry preaches that bad things live between the temps of 40 and 140 (F). With the new illnesses such as Valley Fever and Non TB bacterium showing up in shower heads, stay safe, 140)
Wash full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.
Repair leaky faucets; constant dripping adds up to gallons of wasted hot water.

Gas Dryer
Dry a full load each time but avoid overloading.
Clean your lint trap before each load to improve dryer efficiency. (Wash the lint trap! I found it really does make a difference) (use those dryer balls you've seen in the catalogs - they cut our drying time down by at least 15% - yes, I tested it!)

From Alliance To Save Energy
http://www.ase.org/content/article/detail/936
Reducing Winter Heating Bills

Consumers can make their heating systems operate better and longer by having an annual professional “tune up” and by cleaning or replacing filters once a month.
Weather stripping and caulking are great ways to cut heating costs by plugging up energy “leaks.”
Properly insulated attics, walls, floors, basements, and ceilings can prevent loss of up to 20 or 30 percent of your home’s energy. Appropriate insulation will not only reduce your heating bills, but also lower your summer cooling bills. (See North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) consumer web site www.simplyinsulate.com ).
Use foam gaskets to seal leaks around light switches and electrical outlets on exterior walls.
In colder climates with a significant heating season, energy-efficient windows retain more heat, permit less air leakage, and provide warmer window surfaces for improved indoor comfort. Ask your supplier for ENERGY STAR certified windows with double panes and low-emissive coatings so you can star gaze in comfort this winter. For specifics to meet your climate and needs, visit www.efficientwindows.org.
Allow the sun to help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime; close them at night for maximum heat retention.
Consider planting evergreen trees on the north side of your home to block winter winds.
If your home is powered by natural gas, make sure that you have a high-efficiency gas furnace, water heater, and cooking equipment.
Replace continuously burning pilot lights with electronic ignitions to save gas in fireplaces, ovens, ranges, and outdoor lighting systems.
(we replaced our 50+ y.o. gas stove that still worked perfectly with a new one - saved 10% just by getting rid of those 3 pilot lights.)
Additional Resources:

View a consumer natural gas video with even more energy- and money-saving tips from Washington Gas, in collaboration with the Alliance to Save Energy.
Free Alliance to Save Energy resources. Obtain a free booklet, Power$mart: The Power Is in Your Hands, and visit the Consumer Web site.
Free Department of Energy resources. Obtain a free booklet, Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home, in English or Spanish by calling 1-877-337-3463 or online and view an animated version at www.energysavers.gov.
Free Environmental Protection Agency resources. Obtain a free copy of Guide to Energy-Efficient Cooling and Heating which is available at www.energystar.gov from the heating and cooling product pages or by calling 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). Download the ENERGY STAR Action Guide 5 Steps You Can Take to Reduce Air Pollution. .
Free booklet for New Yorkers: It's Right. . . and Right at Home, a brochure with energy-saving tips. Contact 877.NY-SMART (877.697.6278) or residential@nyserda.org. For more tips, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org, the consumer web site of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).