Indoor Air Quality and How it Can Affect You

Have you ever considered the affect indoor air quality could have on your health or the health of others in your home? Personally, I always thought that the air inside my home was healthier for me than the air outside because of common pollutants such as emissions from cars. However, this is not always the case. In fact, pollutants inside the home tend to be 2-5 times higher than outside; and pollutants in the home are even 2-3 times higher than those in commercial buildings!

On Thursday afternoon Evelyn and I had the opportunity to learn about some of these harmful indoor air pollutants at the Talk-n-Walk hosted by the Triangle Chapter of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council): Indoor Air Quality - Making Sure LEED Certified Buildings are Healthy. The event featured speaker Dr. Marilyn Black, founder of the Greenguard Environmental Institute, a nonprofit organization that oversees an international certification program to help consumers buy safer products. Dr. Black has over 25 years of experience studying indoor air pollution and its impact on human beings. Following Dr. Black's presentation we walked the headquarters of Research Triangle Park and the A.K Davis Convention Center to examine how sustainable design and building practices were implemented in this LEED Gold certified building. Many thanks to all of those who put on this event - it definitely got me thinking about the potential level of harmful pollutants in my home and what I can do to prevent them!

The problem: People spend an average of 90% of their time indoors. Whether it be in the home, at the office, or in closed transit - we are always inside! While indoors, we are exposed to thousands of airborne pollutants released from products and materials we use daily. These pollutants release VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) which, when inhaled, can result in headaches, nose and throat irritation, and dizziness. If inhaled for a long period of time, or at high concentrations, these chemicals can be toxic and cause allergies, asthma, autism, neurological and reproductive defects, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and even cancer! According to Dr. Black, of all VOCs found in homes, 21% of them are carcinogens, or cancer causing toxins. Not only can these indoor air pollutants affect you directly after contact, but also years down the road! In addition to VOCs, other common indoor pollutants include molds, allergens, ozone, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and dust. According to the research done by Dr. Black and her Greenguard team, the most common indoor pollutant found in airplane seats is hair lice - think about that next time you board an airplane!

So what exactly are these VOCs, and where do they come from? To break it down, "volatile" is a term meaning that these chemicals evaporate easily at room temperature; "organic" means that these chemicals contain carbon - and since carbon burns, many of these chemicals are flammable. VOCs can come from a number of things, including: wall coverings, floor covering such as carpet and hardwood, furniture, foam bedding, self adhesives, and even household cleaning supplies. These products and materials outgas harmful VOCs and pollutants into the air. Another source is when contractors use adhesives, sealants, or other materials during installation that contain VOCs instead of the newer, greener alternative (there is a significant need for education here, so make sure your contractor is experienced and knowledgeable of the materials and IAQ before hiring).

We reviewed a case study from Atlanta, Ga, the 2nd LEED home in the nation. After living in the home for about two years the family started experiencing flu-like symptoms including dizziness, nausea, and fatigue- all symptoms from an extremely elevated total VOC level. After thorough investigation researchers found the main source to be the adhesive used on their hardwood floors! It turns out, the contractor tried to speed up the process and installed the wood floors while they were still wet, therefore causing them to gap once completely dried. To fill in these gaps the contractor used an adhesive glue containing acetaldehyde that contributed to the poor indoor air quality. Needless to say they had the home stripped of all VOC containing materials bringing the levels back down to normal, but a lot of the damage could have been prevented had the contractor taken the time to let the wood dry completely.

Recent changes in buildings and the growing popularity of "green" building has only compounded the problem with indoor air pollutants. The increased attention on energy efficiency and homes being designed with a "tight envelope" sacrifices ventilation, reducing the air change in the house and raising the number of indoor pollutants. Don't get me wrong, I am all for energy efficiency and "green" building, as long as you take the extra precautions to make sure your home is thoroughly ventilated. According to Dr. Black, the most common indoor pollutants they have seen in these "green" LEED certified homes are phthalates, which come from plastics; mercury, from the energy efficient florescent light bulbs; and combustion VOCs from using the fireplace more often to save on energy costs. Dr. Black claimed that it is also common to see contractors who will make the mistake and use a product they have experience with rather than a "green" product the client may request because of their lack of knowledge of the product itself - another reason to find a qualified contractor with experience in "green" building.

What you can do: It may seem difficult to fight indoor air pollutants, but in fact there are simple every day decisions you can make to keep you and those in your home healthy. The obvious answer to reducing the level of total VOCs in your home is to reduce products you buy containing VOCs (cleaning products, furniture, bedding). But how do you know if products contain them? Well, according to Dr. Black, the only way to be completely sure is to buy products certified and labeled by independent third party sources that do emissions testing, such as Greenguard.

Other tips: beware of products labeled "VOC-free" since there is no industry standard of what this exactly means; when buying paints and stains, look for "low-emitting formulas;" and use detergents and cleaners that are biodegradable while avoiding products labeled "natural". When buying products you should look for the following labels: "low emitting," "mold resistant," and "non-toxic."

When building a new home or remodeling Dr. Black recommends working with your contractor to develop a schedule (or IAQ Management) to make sure any chemicals that are introduced are completed in an order that limits contaminating porous materials such as carpet or ceiling tile. Of all these tips, the key to keeping indoor pollution down is ventilation. Open windows at opposite ends of the home at least once a week to allow air to pass through and help flush out the house. Residents should also use their ceiling or house fans to circulate air throughout individual rooms. Another tip: Buy air filters that fit and do not alter the filter. After all, air takes the path of least resistance, so any little crack in the filter and the air will escape right through - completely defeating the purpose.

To learn more tips to help keep your indoor air pollutant level low check out Greenguard's website. You can also find a list of over 250,000 certified products that are guaranteed to have low levels of VOCs.

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TIMA Seminar: What Can Social Media Do For You?

Hi, everyone! I'm Lyndsey, and I'm working with Springleaf Strategies this summer as their public relations intern. This is my first post and I'm excited about helping Springleaf increase its online presence!

It seems like everyday I hear a news story about tweeting, posting on Facebook, or using LinkedIn as a new method for communicating. So the other day Catherine and I headed downtown to the Marbles Museum for the TIMA (Triangle Interactive Marketing Association) networking and seminar on social media to hear what local experts had to say. Much to my surprise, the room was packed. The board of panelists were accomplished "social media experts," who helped to clarify the value of social media and offer tips on what businesses can do to build their online presence and raise awareness using these new tools. You can become a fan on Springleaf's Facebook fan page or check us out on our LinkedIn profile.

According to the panelists, everyone claims to be a "social media expert," inserting the line into their resumes just because they've used a Facebook account or posted a few "tweets" every now and then. But what exactly is social media? How can you use it in your business? And is social media even valuable to a company?

As I sat I contemplated social media and the ways I have interacted with it in my life through Facebook, blogging, creating a LinkedIn profile, and even through website comments; the panelists brought up an all encompassing definition of social media: it's anything shared and discussed in a digital format. This includes e-mail, instant messaging, Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, all the different types of blogging, and even comments posted on product review websites such as Consumer Reports! It's sharing information between two people, or between one person and a mass audience, using a digital medium. These panelists are so involved with social media they even encouraged the audience to keep their phones on and to Twitter our questions to them throughout the event - talk about incorporating social media interaction!

Seeing as social media is all about digital interaction, it is imperative for businesses to create an online community - we ultimately can't interact without one. This doesn't necessarily mean creating your own "micro-community" on the web, but using one that is already established to build a "brand community," or a place where your target audience can find your business on the web. Take Facebook fan pages for example. Facebook is already an established site with its own community; so why not build your own page within it to attract your target customers that use Facebook? Since there is so much information available in the online community, you need to distinguish your site from others by providing your readership with high value content; original thoughts or links to interesting articles - just a few ideas to get you thinking.

Social media can absolutely add value to a company, if it is done the right way. In the past, businesses have looked at social media as an add-on to their traditional advertising campaigns. The panelists point of view is that social media marketing should be implemented from the beginning of your marketing campaign, tied directly to your business strategy, and have a clearly defined target audience and message. It is also critical to maintain the content and keep it fresh and dynamic.

When choosing social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn, businesses need to be aware of the different personality connotations associated with each site. The panelists concluded with the following similes: LinkedIn is like the office, and should be used for professional life only; Myspace is like the bar, and should be used for social reasons; and Facebook is like your backyard bar-be-que, including your friends and closest co-workers. It is important for businesses to choose the right site and personality for their audience, and for companies to monitor their employees so that their office and personal life social media personalities remain separate. If you can manage this, create an interactive community, and add value to your readers, then your business should be successful in its campaign and have a positive impact on the end result: sales.

I will leave you with one final thought: is there a distinction between business-to-business and business-to-consumer social media marketing? After all, according to the panelists, isn't it all just businesses communicating to people in general? Whether they are business consumers or every day consumers, isn't your goal simply to interact, add value, and package it in a way for people to reuse? I'm just saying, it got me thinking!

Check out the Springleaf Strategies fan page on Facebook

Also check us out on LinkedIn
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Week in Review

Last week was a busy week with the SJF Summit on the New Green Economy and the TCREW Sustainable Design luncheon. The next few weeks have some pretty interesting events that I'd like to share with you as well. To learn more about upcoming events, visit us on Facebook. Become a fan and stay tuned!

First, a review of The Summit. A big shout out to Deb Parsons, Kenan-Flagler classmate and Queen of Sustainability! She headed east to spend some time at the SJF Summit this week. Deb is quite an inspiring woman. She brought a lot of energy and innovation to KFBS. Among her many accomplishments the one that lives on is the Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition.

Anyway, Deb spoke along with Jessica Thomas from KFBS CSE program and Chris Carmody at the Institute for Sustainable Development in Chapel Hill. Their session was on supporting social entrepreneurs and companies that create green jobs. Deb works for Investors' Circle, a non-profit organization that connects angel investors, venture capitalists, and others interested in investing in making the transition to a more sustainable economy. They brought great experience and advice in supporting businesses that are focused on sustainability, and what those jobs mean to the economy.

Labor Shortage: Several of the speakers at The Summit spoke of the lag in skilled labor available for green economy jobs. It is SUCH an opportunity for folks that have been laid off to seek training at community colleges offering courses, or to encourage kids in high school that there is a future for them in this new green economy.

Government Support: Another topic that came up repeatedly is the role government plays in supporting green businesses. Policy has a dramatic impact on business - if policies are not predictable and long-term, businesses are unlikely to adopt the desired change.

Sufficient Funding: In order for any of the 'Clean Tech' start ups to cross the chasm, sufficient innovation capital must be available. This can come in the form of grants or investment (good message to a group of venture capital gurus, right?).

The cost of capital has increased in the last year or two. Time frames for investing have increased and the competition for investors have decreased as money moves to the sidelines (or disappeared). There are fewer investors in the market ready move on the right opportunity.

For entrepreneurs: More experience is a plus, and a power purchase agreement in place (for renewable energy technologies) makes it much easier for investors to take the plunge. "Many buyers [with capital] view the market as an optimal time to buy."

A Word of Advice: to investors and entrepreneurs - the hottest technology isn't the only opportunity. We're in a time of economic crisis, but that also provides tremendous opportunity for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors. "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Advice: Focus on the gap between actual and perceived risks, and find alternate financing sources. (Did you know that there are 60,000 small foundations in the U.S., and they provide 50% of U.S. foundation grant money??)

Areas to Watch: Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation, efficiency and waste minimization, embedded intelligence, micro & macro energy storage, waste-to-energy technologies. Look for more states and municipalities to adopt a 'total waste stream reduction policy' to address the volume of waste going to the landfills. Recycling is great, but it still requires trucks to drive around for pick up as well as the resources to recycle the materials. The better strategy is to encourage reducing consumption.

Cap and Trade: Caps on emissions are likely in the not-too-distant future. This will be a contentious debate as businesses and individuals learn more about what cap and trade will mean for them. If businesses have to pay for their carbon emissions, they will most certainly pass that along to us. How much do you value reducing carbon and addressing global warming? How much do you value low prices for just about everything? We have a significant shift in thinking ahead of us.

Currently, there is a bill in Congress that gives 85% of permits for free until 2026 to help ease the transition. After that, businesses will have to pay for carbon permits. If we know we will be paying more for our stuff, do you think we can adjust our budgets in advance? How much do you think cap and trade will affect consumerism that has become a hallmark of American culture?

The conference was fantastic. If you missed it, be sure to check it out for next year.

TCREW Luncheon on Sustainable Development:

Lori Eichel of Accent Construction moderated a panel of experienced real estate professionals to talk about lessons learned and their experiences with green building. The panel included Gregg Sandreuter of Hamilton-Merritt, Jim Smith of HagerSmith Design, Shelley McPhatter of BridgePoint Construction Services, and Myron Taschuk, Construction Project Manager at Duke University.

The group talked about the impact of green building, and the challenges of the LEED rating system. Working with the design team from the beginning can help to reduce expenses in the long run because everyone is on the same page about the goals for the project. Calculating the ROI and payback period for specific investments can help your project stay on track (instead of chasing shiny objects b/c they are too cool).

Lastly, focusing on energy reduction can have the greatest impact, especially if you own the building for a period of time (>5 years). Our region is in a period of transition - demand has not grown enough to dictate all construction to be LEED, but within the next few years it appears that may catch up. While building to LEED standards gives you third party verification that a building is green, many private developers in the Triangle have not been able to justify the expense without having demand from a tenant.

There is some movement from municipalities to help drive LEED - Durham County, the City of Raleigh, and the State of North Carolina all have requirements to pursue LEED Certification or LEED Silver (some exceptions for buildings under 10,000 sq. ft.). The federal government also has a requirement for all its new buildings to be LEED buildings, and exisiting buildings rated a minimum of Energy Star (this would likely be an issue upon renewal). Anyone who is interested in a long-term government lease should be aware of these requirements coming down the pike (2012 - 2015).

It was a great session, and I enjoyed hearing from some leaders in the field.

Coming up next: the Green Plus summer event on June 11th, and the North Carolina Economic Developers Association Annual Conference. You can learn more on our fan page on Facebook.

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Thanks for the Welcome!

First of all, a big, big thank you to Evelyn for the awesome introduction and, most importantly, for the opportunity to work for Springleaf Strategies.  I'm thrilled to be working with her and in the sustainability field.  

After graduating from Elon in 2006, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to (1) enjoy going to work everyday (who doesn't want that?) and (2) do something that mattered and made a difference in the long run.  I then worked in the marketing field for an insurance brokerage for a few years, while I did freelance writing on the side.  I enjoyed the different aspects of marketing, but writing and creativity have always been what really excite me.  When Evelyn offered me the opportunity to come work for her at Springleaf, the timing was perfect.  There was no way I could turn down the chance to do something I loved that also mattered!

Before the trend and bandwagon came along, being "green" had always been something that mattered to me.  I was a kid when recycling was becoming a buzzword, so it's something I have grown up with, something that's in the same category as common sense to me.  One of the cool things about working with Springleaf is that it has challenged me to find new ways to reduce my own impact, and it has made me more aware of the things my friends and family are doing that could be done in a more sustainable way.  I'm also getting the opportunity to keep learning, which I am thrilled about.  If you saw my book collection, you'd understand the craving I have for learning...or you might just think I'm a complete nerd. :)

In an effort to keep the rambling to a minimum, I'll close by saying how excited I am to be part of the Springleaf Strategies team.  I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to work with the kinds of people who are passionate about sustainability and making efforts to be environmentally-conscious.  I'm meeting lots of great new people, so if you see me around, say hi--but bear with me as I learn new faces and names!  

Evelyn, I'm braced and ready for the ride!

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We're Growing!

We've been busy here at Springleaf Strategies. This spring, we've added staff and project managers to better serve clients, add capabilities in-house, and expand our reach.

Today, I'm pleased to announce we've hired Catherine Nicholson as the Corporate Communications Specialist for the company. Her focus will be communications and public relations for clients and for Springleaf Strategies. She will be chiming in on the blog and has already expanded our social media marketing on Facebook and LinkedIn (visit us and become a fan!)


Catherine has been working in marketing for several years now, and was a free lance writer prior to joining Springleaf Strategies. She will fill a big role at the company, providing creative writing, public relations, and social media marketing for clients and for Springleaf. She is a 2006 graduate of Elon University, with a degree in Creative Writing and English (a great match for my mathematics undergrad!). She brings a lot of strengths to the table and I am excited to add Catherine to the staff.

Springleaf Strategies has experienced growth despite the economy. I attribute this to our laser-like focus on sustainability. Our clients are providing products or services that reduce the environmental impact of development, and are working to integrate sustainability into their operations. It has been rewarding to meet so many fantastic companies over the past year. Sometimes it has been difficult to keep up with the pace of these businesses, as well as the volume of conferences, seminars, workshops, and meetings on sustainability. By adding Catherine, I hope to improve service to our clients and provide more communication capabilities.

So, a big welcome to Catherine. Please say hello to her if you see her about town or at some of these many meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. She's also going to be posting here regularly. You can follow her on the blog as well. Catherine: Hang on, it's going to be a wild ride!
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