E-The Environmental Magazine

Published: 4/9/2023 12:31:08 PM

Modified: 4/9/2023 12:29:21 PM

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that gas stoves are bad for indoor air quality, but what about gas furnaces and other gas-powered appliances typically found in homes? — L.J., Ronkonkoma, NY

Natural gas is almost as ubiquitous an energy source in American households as electricity. Indeed, 48% of U.S. homes stay warm with gas-powered furnaces while 38% do their cooking with gas. But recent revelations about the negative effect cooking with gas can have on indoor air pollution has given rise to new concerns about other types of gas-powered appliances inside our homes as well.

Gas cooktops may be the biggest offender given how much pollution they throw off when we use them, but gas-powered ovens, water heaters, clothes dryers and fireplaces are also worthy of concern. Gas-powered appliances emit carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that, when inhaled, can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea — even death in high concentrations. Modern furnaces and appliances have safety features to prevent dangerous levels from building up, but they can still emit small amounts of CO.

Another concern with gas-powered appliances is the emission of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO2 is a reddish-brown gas that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. It can also exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Gas stoves are the primary source of indoor NO2, but gas furnaces and other gas-powered appliances can also produce it. Gas-powered appliances also emit particulate matter (PM), another type of indoor air pollution. PM is a mixture of tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Exposure to PM can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.

To minimize the negative effects of gas-powered appliances on indoor air quality, it is important to properly maintain and ventilate them. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and replacing filters, can help ensure that appliances are running efficiently and emitting fewer pollutants. Additionally, proper ventilation can help remove pollutants from the air. Ventilation can be achieved by opening windows or using exhaust fans that vent to the outside.

Another option for reducing indoor air pollution from gas-powered appliances is to switch to electric varieties instead. Electric stoves and furnaces do not produce CO or NO2, and they emit far less PM than gas appliances. While electric appliances may have higher upfront costs, they can be more cost-effective over time due to lower operating costs and reduced maintenance needs.

If you are designing a new home from scratch, it’s a no-brainer these days to choose appliances powered by electricity not gas. But most of us don’t have that luxury, and it’s not easy to decide if it’s worth the expense and hassle of switching out an old gas-powered appliance with a shiny new electric one. The bottom line is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” as swapping out an old one for a new one generates more pollution overall thanks to the lifecycle costs of manufacturing. But if your old appliance has reached the end of its useful life anyway, changing to an electric one may well be the best move.

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: [email protected].

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The West Lafayette Board of Public Works and Safety approved the city’s 2023 fuel bid from Ceres Solutions.

According to a memo attached to the request, the city also received estimates from Co-Alliance, Co-Op.

Public Works Director Ben Anderson said Ceres Solutions has been the city’s fuel provider for “close to a decade.”

“It is recommended that the city continue with the current supplier, Ceres Solutions,” the memo reads. “They have the lowest overhead price of $0.299 for transportation and driver’s fees.”

The board also approved a request for proposals for new air purification systems in all city buildings, including the police and fire departments.

Erin Easter, the director of development, said this project would install high capacity filtration systems for facilities that serve the public.

She said they are also requesting approval for an agency contract with Buxton. The company analyzes consumer behavior and reports the data for future projects.

Easter said they are planning to hire “interns who are specialists in data.”

The board approved the agreement for economic development tools with Buxton.

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On today’s show:

• Spring fire season is here. The East Coast, Florida, and the South get busy.

• The Southwest, Region 3, goes PL2.

• Forest Service gives job series and wage increase updates.

• Department of Interior is moving forward with series implementation before FS.

• A new clear air rule makes prescribed fire more difficult.

• More Exemptions are needed to conduct burns if implemented.

• An Agency VS Agency battle.

• Plus more.

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OXFORD, CT — The state has approved $1.88 million to improve Great Oak Elementary School’s air filtration system. This funding is part of $56 million in state grants for public schools throughout Connecticut to upgrade HVAC systems.

“Young learners and educators alike need an environment that supports their health and safety,” Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) said in a statement. “There is no more basic element to this environment than the air they breathe. I applaud the administration’s shared awareness of this crucial matter and the efforts to enhance indoor air quality in Oxford. This investment in clean and safe air quality will promote a healthier environment, fewer missed days from school and better learning outcomes for our students, teachers, and staff.”

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Berthel is the ranking member of the Legislature’s Education Committee.

The grants are being awarded through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grants Program for Public Schools, a newly established state program that is administered by the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services. The grant program was created as part of the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law last year.

The program has been allocated $150 million through two revenue streams, including $75 million from state bond funding and $75 million from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

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Salt Lake City, Utah (Good Things Utah) — Are you looking for a simple yet effective way to improve the air quality in your home? Look no further than changing your air filter, and Any Hour Services can help!

Air filters are an essential component of your HVAC system, trapping dust, dirt, pollen, and other particles to keep the air in your home clean and healthy. Over time, however, these filters can become clogged and less effective, which can lead to poor indoor air quality, reduced energy efficiency, and increased wear and tear on your system.

That’s why it’s important to change your air filter regularly. Most experts recommend changing your filter every 1-3 months, depending on factors like the size of your home, the number of occupants, and whether you have pets or allergies. Any Hour Services recommends setting a reminder and checking your filter once a month to see if it needs to be changed.

At Any Hour Services, they specialize in HVAC maintenance and repair, including air filter replacement. They have experienced technicians who can help you choose the right filter for your system, and they also offer flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle. Did we also mention they offer upfront pricing and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust them to provide high-quality service at a fair price.

Don’t let a dirty air filter compromise the air quality in your home. Contact Any Hour Services today to schedule your air filter replacement and breathe easier knowing your HVAC system is running smoothly. Visit the Any Hour Service website for more information and to schedule your service!

*Sponsored Content.

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Cooling and heating units in our lives play a major role in keeping us at peace and comfort indoors through all seasons. The air ducts are among the components that form an integral part of your HVAC unit. Its importance and maintenance are something you cannot ignore. These ensure that the hot or cool air during the cold and winter months is properly circulated and makes our HVAC systems at their efficient best. Dirty air ducts if neglected can cause many problems that affect your home environment and your health and well-being. So periodic calling in professional duct cleaning Melbourne service provider ensures you reap the benefits of a great air conditioning system.

The air inside your rooms enters the air ducts numerous times daily and again flows in and out of your rooms from your HVAC unit.

This is the re-circulated air that you inhale daily. So isn’t it only right that we should desire that we have a clean HVAC system as much as it is possible? All homeowners need to understand that hiring residential duct cleaning Melbourne specialists ensures that all your system components should be clean for you to have and experience healthy air.

So what do I get from air duct cleaning?

Professional duct cleaning Melbourne service technicians will use a high-powered vacuum to suck out pollutants, dust, and debris from air ducts and prevent polluted air from re-entering your home. Typically air duct cleaning involves, cleaning of-

• Grilles
• Diffusers
• Air ducts
• Air registers
• Heat exchangers
• Heating and cooling coils
• Housing and Motor fans
• HVAC housing unit
• Drain pans

Advantages of professional duct cleaning

You get many benefits by hiring professional air duct cleaners. These include-

Enjoy comfortable room temperatures

Over time your air ducts get clogged and this affects your overall HVAC unit. When professionals eliminate all accumulated dust, debris, pollen, or pet fur from your air ducts, it allows your HVAC system to function with greater efficiency. So this means your cooler or heater your home during summers and winters to keep you comfy through all seasons. Dirty ducts cause uneven or unstable cool or hot zones of different intensity across your rooms. Cleaning ducts helps avoid all this where everything is smooth and balanced.

Improves indoor air quality inside your interiors

With dust and other contaminants building up in your HVAC system, the indoor air quality in your home becomes quite poor. This is not a good sign as it spells bad news for your health can lead to breathing or respiratory issues especially in the sensitive or elderly. Fungal spores and air borne bacteria lodged inside air ducts trigger allergies that refuse to stop. Professional duct cleaning Melbourne experts remove all traces of embedded debris and pollutants from air ducts rendering the air quality breathable and safe once again. Once you engage the professionals, allergies and disease symptoms automatically lessen and disappear.

Minimizes the need for repeated dusting

You must have faced a situation where you have found that no matter how well or frequently you dusted your interiors, the dust came right back in no time.

This is the first sign that indicates you have very dirty ducts. Residential duct cleaning  Melbourne service providers can help improve this as the excess dust on your floors, furniture, and surfaces gets removed and reduces the need for you to dust again.

Lessen the noise coming from your HVAC unit

Noisy fans of your HVAC system can be annoying and make it difficult for you to hear phone calls or even make a conversation. They also cause disruptions in a peaceful night’s sleep. A noisy HVAC unit indicates that your air ducts have been clogged for too long and all the particles lodged in it need to be taken out. Calling specialist duct cleaners causes brings in a thorough clean-up that gets rid of all the noise from your HVAC unit and allows you to be in a peaceful environment again.

Eliminates offensive or unpleasant smells

Your home lately might smell rather unpleasant. No matter how much room freshener you spray, the smell seems to persist, leaving you clueless. The reason behind this is due to the build-up of contaminants in your air registers, vents, and air ducts. Dust and dirt accumulation in your ductwork produces a strong musty smell. Stale smells are also a result of household cleaning solutions, paint fumes, cigarettes, mold, pets, and culinary exercises. These are trapped inside your air ducts. Every time you switch on your HVAC unit, these scents get the time and gain circulated across your house. So cleaning air ducts will immediately rectify this issue. Cleaning air ducts should be a yearly issue as it purifies your air ducts from all contaminants including mold and mildew and results in a fresh and clean-smelling home.

Causes lowering of energy bills

Air ducts if periodically cleaned can keep the health of your home intact and at the same time also aid in keeping the cost of energy consumption low. When sir ducts get clogged with debris, dust, or dander, the HVAC is not able to be efficient enough to produce the required temperatures and works harder to reach that level. This stresses the unit and it consumes more electricity and you end up paying more than normal. By hiring Residential duct cleaning Melbourne professionals your ducts become unclogged and the HVAC system recovers its efficiency thereby bringing down energy bills and making a happy!

Allows inspection of other components and saves money

Whenever you book a request from a professional air duct service provider, the technician first comes and does a thorough inspection to gauge the state of your entire unit. In doing so many hidden issues emerge on the surface like loose wiring, leaks, and other conditions that could have gone ignored. So a timely intervention can save a bigger disaster from happening in the future. Imagine suddenly facing a breakdown at the height of the season. So a professional cleaning allows a timely checkup that is very useful for the system and you in the long run, thereby saving anxiety and cost in an emergency.

Finally, no matter how good you are and updated you are cleaning air ducts by yourself is an impractical idea as it is extensive and concealed, and much of it you do not know. You also do not possess the training or technology which the professionals possess. Having air ducts cleaned is a must as it affects your health and also the long life of your HVAC system and keeps you in comfort in hot and cold seasons. So, invest in good indoor air by periodically calling in the pros!

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• By Clara Bullock & Alex Seabrook
• BBC News

6 hours ago

Image caption,

It is hoped the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will reduce air pollution in the city

Transport boss refused to say how many drivers have been fined in Bristol’s Clean Air Zone.

The scheme has been running for four months, but details of its impact on traffic and pollution remain unclear.

Drivers pay about £7m in total each year to Bristol City Council for about 230,000 parking and bus lane fines.

Clean Air Zone fines are adding “many more” to that total, although the exact figures have not yet been revealed.

During a recent cabinet meeting, questions were raised about how many PCNs have been issued to drivers who fail to pay the Clean Air Zone charge on time.

Labour Councillor Don Alexander, cabinet member for transport, said: “Parking services currently issue about 100,000 parking and 130,000 bus lane PCNs each year.

“The number of Clean Air Zone PCNs is adding more to this total.”

The Clean Air Zone launched on 28 November last year.

People driving older and more polluting vehicles are charged a fee to drive into a zone around the city centre, of either £9 or £100, depending on the vehicle size.

Drivers who fail to pay this charge are issued a fine, but it’s unclear how many drivers the council has fined since the scheme was introduced.

Council bosses are “not going to comment on particular figures” until November later this year.

A report will then be published looking at all of the details of how the Clean Air Zone has worked in practice a year since it launched.

This would likely include the total number of fines issued, as well as an analysis of how much air pollution has gone up or down.

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As far back as 1989, when NASA scientist B.C. Wolverton produced a study on the topic, it has been understood that plants have the ability to remove harmful organic chemicals such as benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air. “That’s the reason why humans are able to live on this planet, because plants have purified the air,” said Wolverton. “And we are using this ability of the plant in our pots” (via NASA). Much of this work happens below the surface of the soil; the study explains that plant roots and the microorganisms that live in the soil kill those harmful organic chemicals along with bacteria and viruses. Perhaps the most fascinating part is that plants can then turn those pollutants into healthy new cell tissue.

Even so, you’ll find conflicting information when you search for it. More recent studies have found that, while plants are beneficial, they are not always able to make a significant improvement in indoor air quality (via Breeze Technologies). Whether it’s the species of plant, the specific combination of chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air, or the light and moisture conditions within the home, results tend to be excessively varied. We must understand that though they help, they cannot be the sole cure. More effective solutions include better air circulation and ventilation and, where possible, removing whatever it is that is causing the low air quality in the first place.

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It’s no secret that we love a Coway air purifier to help combat dust, dander, and, of course, dreaded spring allergies. But the brand’s latest collaboration with Korean artist Haily Hills might make the ultra-functional Airmega the hottest design accessory for spring.

A graduate of Seoul National University’s College of Fine Arts, Haily has receive international accolades such as the Red Dot Communication Design Award, IF Communication Award, and the Asia Digital Art Award. Often inspired by natural motifs, the artist’s contemporary artwork includes paintings as well as interior accessories and more. Her pieces often explore her relationship with natural landscapes, and how they’ve had the psychological ability to shape her feelings and emotions through form and color. With her latest endeavor—the reimagined Coway Airmega available for purchase on April 17—the artist is exploring her work through a totally new medium.

The Green Breeze Airmega 250 Art in action

Katarina Kovac

With its simple set-up, we found this air purifier to be one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use air purifier models we’ve tried to date. Designed to cleanse the air in spaces up to about 1,800 square feet per hour, standout features include the colored bar reader on the top of the unit that switches from blue (clean air), to green (moderate), to red (unhealthy) as air quality changes. The air purifier is especially helpful after cooking a huge meal, soaking up the smells and odors that come with cooking and eliminating them in almost no time. The proverbial icing on the clean air cake? The art panel latches onto the Coway air purifier with magnets, allowing you to easily take it off or swap if you choose to do so. 

Below, we spoke with Haily about her collaboration with Coway, the design of the panels, and which one in the collection has become her personal favorite.

What was your inspiration for each of the three colorways? What led you to select the different color tones, and is there a different meaning behind each one?

Vanilla Sky was inspired by the color of the spring sky as it looks from under a tree. Bright sky blue and pink cherry blossoms are mixed to create purple, and warm yellow and sky blue Cornelian Cherry flowers are contrasted. When the color of the spring sky is mixed with the color of spring flowers, it becomes a comfortable and warm pastel-toned vanilla sky.

For Green Breeze, I imagined the color of the spring breeze. The spring sunshine touches the skin and is warm, but the wind blowing is still cold but fresh. I imagined that the color of the spring breeze would resemble the color of life that rekindled, like the color of leaves that begin to sprout under the warm sunlight.

Pink pebbles that have been weathered for a long time under the valley have a round and peaceful character. It’s like a pink personality that gives you a sense of stability in mind. In fact, pink is said to have the effect of lowering blood pressure. All three of the paintings are composed of colors and comfortable curved surfaces that can provide visual healing for those who want to relax at home.

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