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Green remodeling fights home-value blues

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Your air quality issues aren't over just because you installed an energy efficient HVAC system. Green remodeling also takes into account indoor, air-quality standards, particularly those involving volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

These compounds are often emitted as potentially dangerous gases and can come from paints or certain building materials. They are suspected of being linked to multiple health problems and can produce unpleasant odors.

One solution is low- or no-VOC paints. Beere says soy stain is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood floors. On other surfaces, he uses no-VOC paint. An additional VOC-reduction strategy: "We replaced all carpets with hard surfaces.''

Strong uses VOC-free paint and also makes use of clay with a naturally pigmented finish on some walls. He takes advantage of local materials by purchasing all of his tiles within a 500-mile radius of Houston.


 

 

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