THE DIRT
With the average Australian now spending 90% of their time inside,  indoor air quality is more important than ever before.

Changes in the way we live have created increases in the level of indoor air pollution in both the home and office. The US Environmental Protection Authority now list Indoor Air Pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. The CSIRO estimates that the health cost of this may be as high as $12 billion per year.

Silent and continuous off-gassing  occurs from;  the PVC underlay under most carpets, the sealants and lacquers on furniture and hard floors and the paints used throughout the home and office.  Many of these products continue to off-gas for months and in some cases many years.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), a group of emitted compounds that vapourise at room temperature, also contaminate the indoor air.

Paints and paint strippers, furniture and building products can all be sources of VOCs. Common VOCs in the home such as formaldehyde (found in furniture and building glues and varnishes) and benzene (released from dish liquid and paints) have been listed as carcinogens.
 
When building or renovating, use non-toxic paints and sealants. On wood use plant based hard oils or waxes rather than polyurethane finishes. If you must have carpet, opt for a low emission product and leave the house during and after installation. Choosing recycled wood with non-toxic sealants can be a good alternative.


G SPOT
I cringe when I think of how toxic our first house must have been.  We painted every wall (and some tiles) with conventional paints before moving in, not realising the health or environmental consequences! We live and learn!


COME CLEAN
Check out these great, eco-friendly, non-toxic reno ideas.....

Thinking of painting your babies nursery? Children's skin absorbs up to three times the chemicals absorbed by an adult. To protect your child from asthma, allergies and chemical sensitivities related to exposure to paint, choose a zero V.O.C paint. Bauwerk MUD paints are fully certified VOC free. Brighten up your babies room and keep them happy and healthy. www.bauwerk.com.au

PAINTED EARTH offers a large range of eco friendly paints and wood finishes suitable for home and workplace. Selected from 6 different companies – Bio, Livos, Volvox, Oikos, Phoenix, and Cooee - the range includes clay paint, plant based paint, and natural wood oils through to conventional acrylic paints, decorative finishes, and wood finishes that are low VOC and non toxic.
 www.house-paint.com.au

The Natural Paint Place has a comprehensive range of non toxic products for decorating your home, including strippers and cleaners, varnishes, oils and stains, wall paints and enamels. With best environmental practice at its core, the products are made with your health and the health of the planet in mind. www.energyandwatersolutions.com.au

Remill offers sustainable timber solutions for the interior of your home. They specialise in reclaiming old, salvaged timber and transforming it into unique machined or handcrafted products. They have many options to choose from, including period matched mouldings- architraves, skirtings, picture rails, floorboards and decking. They can also custom build furniture, doors and windows for you. www.remill.com

Many modern homes are built using toxic, synthetic petrochemical chemical paints, glues, varnishes, chipboard, etc. When building or renovating your home, you can easily use safe, natural paints based on plant oils, tree resins and mineral pigments.  The Planet Ark Store in Fremantle supplies natural paints, floor finishes, plant-based enamels, varnishes and even a lovely paint stripper, all of which are safe and healthy to use. Visit 37 Cantonment St, Fremantle WA and see the CleanLife BLOG for more details on Planet Ark

Externally using paints that create a heat and solar reflective insulation barrier, can reduce air conditioning requirements and greenhouse gas emissions. Some of these products can be used on bricks and tiles too.  Visit www.solacoat.com.au or www.coolshield.com.au