NATIONAL REPORT—Summer is here. And, with mild temperatures, comes the chance to assess the damage inflicted on your deck and porches by winter snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Your old finish may be worn leaving the wood unprotected and open to rotting and splitting. The ultimate test is to apply a few drops of water to the wood. If it beads, your wood should be well protected for another season, but if it soaks into the wood, it’s time for restoration. For many years, staining wood meant working with toxic solvents and harmful fumes. But, to meet growing demand for...

HARTFORD, CONN.—Do “green” buildings protect human health from environmental hazards? The answer is “not necessarily,” according to a recent report released by Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), titled “LEED Certification: Where Energy Efficiency Collides with Human Health.” EHHI is a nonprofit organization composed of doctors, public health professionals and policy experts who specialize in research that examines environmental threats to human health. The organization receives no funding from corporations or businesses. The lead author of this study is John Wargo, Ph.D., professor of Risk Analysis and Environmental Policy at Yale University. Wargo summarized the study, “Although the U.S. Green...

KNOXVILLE, TENN.—Sansin Corp. released its new Purity Interior Zero VOC Penetrating Stain (0-VOC), a water-based interior wood stain with a base free from any harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that penetrates both soft and hard woods with consistent, uniform coverage. Sansin has been a leader in researching and developing environmentally friendly interior and exterior wood stains for a quarter century. The Sansin Purity Interior Zero VOC Stain is available at participating dealers or can be shipped direct from a nearby dealer location. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified VOCs as a source of unhealthy indoor air with health...

ATLANTA—Simmons Bedding Company announced that all of the polyurethane foams in the company’s mattress lines have earned the CertiPUR-US certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from ozone-depleting CFCs. The certified foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials. Simmons played an instrumental role in facilitating the CertiPUR-US certification process for each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to achieve the certification as a way to address growing consumer concerns about the safety of polyurethane foams. “Consumers today are paying very close attention to what’s inside...

ROSWELL, GA.—Dectron Inc., a leading international manufacturer of indoor air quality equipment, introduces the DRY-O-TRON DSV Series, an energy-efficient dehumidifier designed for light commercial and residential indoor pool and spa areas. Besides Dectron’s signature feature of heat recovery for free pool water heating, the new DSV Series includes green features such as a variable frequency drive (VFD) controlled plenum fans, optional electronically-commutated motors (ECM), micro channel condensing coils, and the energy-saving Supervisaire controller. Additionally, DSV offers engineers and contractors a choice of three environmentally-friendly refrigerants: R-134a, R-407C or R-410A. “The new DSV is state-of-the-art energy efficiency and total designer indoor air...

ATLANTA—NSF International and the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announced the joint development of a health-based standard that addresses chemical emissions from products. This comprehensive standard will streamline the myriad methods currently used for measuring and limiting chemical emissions from products, and will incorporate the most recent science on human health and toxicology to provide acute and chronic chemical exposure limits. The final GEI-NSF standard will serve as a valuable tool for sustainability programs; federal, state, and local governments; code officials; architects and designers; health professionals; specifying professionals; and consumers by helping them choose products that minimize air pollutants in indoor...

BURBANK, CALIF.—Steril-Aire, Inc. announces that it has signed an agreement with SANYO North America Corporation to distribute the new SANYO professional Air Washer Plus, an air purification system that uses electrolyzed water technology to suppress airborne bacteria, allergens, particulates, odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Steril-Aire, a leader in providing green, sustainable solutions for indoor air quality and energy efficiency, will initially distribute the product through its extensive network of trained representatives and distributors in the United States and Canada, with plans to roll out the program to Latin America. The professional Air Washer Plus is the first system of its...

MOONACHIE, N.J.—Introducing energy efficient styles to its complete line of high-quality, high-performance compact fluorescents, BULBRITE introduces the PurifyO2 family of Coil and T5 Quad CFLs which break down odors. They are ideal for damp smelling applications. Ideal for restrooms, closets, gyms, and other damp-smelling rooms in the home, hospital, hotel, daycare center, kennel, pet store and other residential and commercial spaces, the PurifyO2 line safely breaks down odors while providing energy efficient light. It is a healthy alternative to traditional chemical-based air fresheners. PurifyO2 CFLs are designed with a TiO2 coating that helps purify the air and eliminate...

Are you interested in creating healthier work environments? Using your garment or textile care budget to support truly environmentally friendly services and technology? What about adding an additional item to your checklist for becoming a green hotel? The Problems with Traditional Dry Cleaning Able to dissolve most organic materials, perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE) is the most widely used dry cleaning solvent nationally. It has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that approximately 85 percent of cleaners use PCE as their primary solvent. However, some studies suggest that long-term frequent over-exposure to organic solvents such as PCE may...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the last several years, the number of green lodging certification programs available to U.S. hotels has exploded with programs emerging at the national, state and city level. For the most part, these programs address indoor air quality by encouraging lodging establishments to avoid the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are often found in paints, glues, cleaning chemicals, furniture and other items. Some even ask if a property has been tested for radon gas. Ironically, most certification programs avoid addressing the most obvious action that can impact guestroom air quality: smoking. Many studies have proven the ill, often...