Air Cleaners/ Purifiers
Factors to Consider
The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air (expressed as a percentage efficiency rate) and how much air it draws through the green cleaning or filtering element (expressed in cubic feet per minute). A very efficient collector with a low air-circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high air-circulation rate but a less efficient collector. The long-term performance of any Eco-friendly services air cleaner depends on maintaining it according to the manufacturer's directions.
Another important factor in determining the effectiveness of an air cleaner is the strength of the pollutant source. Table-top air cleaners, in particular, may not remove satisfactory amounts of pollutants from strong nearby sources. People with a sensitivity to particular sources may find that air cleaning services are helpful only in conjunction with concerted efforts to remove the source.
Over the past few years, there has been some publicity suggesting that houseplants have been shown to reduce levels of some chemicals in laboratory experiments. There is currently no evidence, however, that a reasonable number of houseplants remove significant quantities of pollutants in homes and offices. Indoor houseplants should not be over-watered because overly damp soil may promote the growth of microorganisms which can affect allergic individuals.
At present, EPA does not recommend using air cleaners to reduce levels of radon and its decay products. The effectiveness of these devices is uncertain because they only partially remove the radon decay products and do not diminish the amount of radon entering the home. EPA plans to do additional research on whether air cleaners are, or could become, a reliable means of reducing the health risk from radon.
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There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others, including most table-top models, are much less so. Air cleaners are generally not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
Indoor Air Quality
Source Control
Ventilation During Projects
Ventilating Kitchen
Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; Others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions. In many cases, source control is also a more cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality than increasing ventilation because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs.
Ventilating Kitchen
Ventilation During Projects
Ventilating Kitchen
Another approach to lowering the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in your home is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans, when the weather permits, or running a window air conditioner with the vent control open increases the outdoor ventilation rate. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located and also increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.
Ventilation During Projects
Ventilation During Projects
Ventilation During Projects
It is particularly important to take as many of these steps as possible while you are involved in short-term activities that can generate high levels of pollutants - for example, painting, paint stripping, heating with kerosene heaters, cooking, or engaging in maintenance and hobby activities such as welding, soldering, or sanding. You might also choose to do some of these activities outdoors, if you can and if weather permits.
Green Cleaning
What does "Green" mean?
Green cleaning is a relatively new term and new way to clean. Cleaning chemicals tend to contain very harmful chemicals that can affect the health and well being of you and your family. They can contain chemicals like ammonia, which people can be allergic to. Most of these chemicals must be well ventilated when in use. The kicker is, that they usually require a dwell time of 10 minutes or more (like Bleach).
Green cleaning agents, on the other hand, are not harmful to humans…or the environment. They contain ingredients that will clean the surface they are applied to but they won’t damage the person doing the cleaning.
Studies have shown that the indoor air quality of homes and business that use Green Cleaning Methods significantly improve. Read the study in the box for more:
Safe - Healthy - Clean
Its about eliminating the chemicals that are harming the environment and compromising our health.
Reasons to go "Green"!
A clean and healthy environment increases productivity.
What Research Says
IMPROVED CLEANING METHODS DECREASED HEALTH RELATED ISSUES
Still Not Convinced?
Dr. Leonard Krilov, Cornell University conducted a study at The Association For Children With Downs Syndrome School. While Dr. Michael Berry has shown improved cleaning methods reduce contaminant levels, Dr. Krilov wanted to see if improved cleaning methods positively impacted certain health related events and absenteeism levels.
The chart to the right documents significant reductions in total illnesses, doctor visits, antibiotic use, and absenteeism when improved cleaning methods were used.
Research
Dr. Michael Berry, author of Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, was able to Quantify reductions in contaminant levels when improved cleaning methods were used. Reducing the source of the problems can improve the health of building occupants.
Hillyard Green Select Cleaners
About the Hillyard Green Select Cleaning Product Line
Green Select Cleaners are formulated to be non-toxic, phosphate free,, biodegradable, nonflammable, and with out dye, fragrance, and hazardous ingredients*. Hillyard Green Select products are formulated to minimize the impact on the environment, reduce the risk to human health, and at the same time improve worker safety.
Hillyard green Select Products: What we recommend
Green Select Glass Cleaner
Green Select Glass Cleaner tackles windows, TV screens, porcelain, plastic, counter tops, restroom fixtures, and stainless steel. It works well as an all purpose spray and wipe for any surface, not harmed by water.
Green Select Glass Cleaner uses a unique combination of environmentally preferred surfactants instead of using harmful solvents, which are contained in most conventional glass cleaners. GSGC is formulated to be effective with cold water, which is better for the environment because it uses less energy.
Green Select Degreaser
Green Select Degreaser Cleaner will clean walls, kitchen floors, resilient tile, tables, and machinery. It will remove tough, greasy soil from any surface. By using a unique combination of environmentally preferred surfactants in its formula, better cleaning efficiency is achieved. Its formula is effective with cold water, which is better for the environment as it allows for less energy usage.
Green Select Bathroom Cleaner
Green Select Degreaser Cleaner will clean walls, kitchen floors, resilient tile, tables, and machinery. It will remove tough, greasy soil from any surface not harmed by water. By using a unique combination of environmentally preferred surfactants in its formula, better cleaning efficiency is achieved. Its formula is effective with cold water, which is better for the environment because it allows for less energy usage.