Was your home built prior to 1978?  In Dallas, TX  over 70% of  existing homes were built prior to 1978. So why is that date so important you ask? Well…. 1978 was the year lead was banned as a substance to be used in paints and finishes. Prior to that, lead was used heavily in the production of paints and therefore a large percentage of homes built prior to 1978 have lead-based paint.

The EPA is finally taking a hard stance on lead safety rules. On April 22, 2010, the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regulations became effective and will be enforced by the EPA. This means contractors working on homes built prior to 1978 must meet the EPA guidelines for projects that might disturb lead. Contractors must seal the work area, post warning signs, and clean using special equipment. They are required to be certified through the EPA and can be fined heavily if there are infractions.

Many homeowners and real estate agents still don't know about about these new regulations and what it means for their properties, that's why I've decided to write this article.

So why is this important for you as a homeowner or real estate agent?

Lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems. This can result in learning disabilities, reduced IQ, and behavioral problems.  Pregnant women exposed to lead can pass the poison along to their fetus.

Lead can cause hypertension, high blood pressure, and other dangerous and painful ailments.

Lead dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. It is invisible and toxic. People can also be exposed to lead through lead paint chips and lead found in soil. Lead paint was banned in 1978 for use in residential dwellings.

Lead dust can be disturbed through remodeling and can endanger you and your family.

How do these regulations affect my property?

If you are planning on remodeling your pre-1978-built home, be sure to consider the safety of your family above all.
Our advise: Do not attempt to do the project yourself until you understand the dangers of lead and how to handle it. Only hire a contractor that is certified by the EPA. A certified professional went through EPA training and knows how to keep you and your family safe. Be sure to ask contractors that you interview if they have been trained to perform lead-safe work practices and ask to see a copy of their certificate. They should also provide you with a brochure entitled “Renovate Right”, which was published by the EPA and contains valuable information about lead.  Remember, your health and that of your family is the top priority.

More information on the details of the new regulations can be found here.

http://www.epa.gov/lead/index.html

EGC Custom Homes is a EPA certified firm and all our superintendents and trade contractors have been certified and have undergone the mandatory EPA training. So if you decide to hire us for your project, we can ensure that proper safety practices are followed – not just by us, but also by our trade contractors -to keep you and your family safe.

Written by:

Marc Kleinmann
Principal/Lead Project Manager
EGC Custom Homes & Renovations

As a member of the Dallas Green Building Alliance I feel it is necessary to let consumers know what green building programs are in our area.  Green Built Texas has been a valuable resource to the green community for some time now.  All members of the Dallas Green Building Alliance are members of Green Built Texas.

What is Green Built Texas?

Green Built Texas is a voluntary partnership of local home builders, industry supporters, and sponsors committed to creating awareness and interest in the construction of higher-performance, lower-impact residential homes in Texas. The program has a construction protocol that Home Builder Association (HBA) members have deemed essential in order for a home to be recognized by the program. Homes built to this protocol conform to higher standards of site management and waste recycling, water efficiency, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, materials, and homeowner education.

Membership in Green Built Texas is open to both Builder and Associate members of the Home Builders Associations in the State of Texas. Through special events and media outreach, the HBA endeavors to make homebuyers more aware of its green building program and its participants. Green Built Texas also provides educational seminars and is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Program as its certification processes offer an alternative method to Green Built Texas recognition. A similar agreement with the U.S. Green Building Council enables homes built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) protocol to enjoy the same benefit.

GBT is better able to serve its members thanks to the resources offered by these national programs. Meanwhile, the national programs benefit from a vibrant state and local initiative serving as a conduit for certification.

The HBA’s goal is to establish a green building program that is recognized by municipalities and consumers throughout the state. Green Built Texas has also established a program for low and mid-rise multifamily construction and will soon create higher levels of green building achievement that will allow builders to advance their building product to meet both consumer desires and their own business plans.

www.greenbuilttexas.com

Benefits of a Green Built Texas Home-click on this link to view benefits

http://www.greenbuiltnorthtexas.com/benhome.htm

Construction Protocol- Click on this link to view protocol:

http://www.greenbuiltnorthtexas.com/documents/GBNT_ProtocolVersion2_official.pdf

When looking for a flooring product to put in your home, you might want to consider this alternative, instead of traditonal flooring. Today's average consumer is interested in healthy living and looks for products that support this ideal. Natural Cork is one of those products

Natural Cork is environmentally correct as well as improving health and comfort for human indoor living. In our homes, Natural Cork floors create a warm, comfortable, resilient surface that is gentle underfoot, is anti-microbial, will not spread flame, and is inherently resistant to molds, mildews, and common pests. From harvest to production to installation, cork is environmentally sustainable, non-toxic, and healthy.
 

Natural Cork floors contribute to satisfying LEED credits for Rapidly Renewable Resources, Recycled Content, and Low Emitting Materials under the LEED Rating System. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings as administered by U.S. Green Building Council. USFloors is a member of the USGBC.

The determining factor for indoor air quality is the quantity of noxious emanations from volatile organic compounds in adhesives and finishes. Natural Cork floors are produced with adhesives and finishes from European manufacturers and meet the E1 standard, a European test method to measure formaldehyde emissions. Natural Cork core board material that provides the structure for the cork veneer is also formaldehyde-free.

Cork wall tiles provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. They are also resilient: marks and indentations typically disappear within a few minutes. Cork is naturally fire resistant, and also resists mold, mildew, and microbial growth. Suberin, a naturally-occuring substance in the cork, also repels insects. Long-lasting, easy to maintain, and non-toxic.

http://www.usfloorsllc.com/products/natural-cork-collection/cork-maintenance/green-building-with-natural-cork/

Weather you are living in a newly built home or an older one you and your family are at risk of suffering from poor indooor air qulaity. There are three types of contaminants that can cause the air quality in your home to be poor. First there are particles which include things like pet dander, pollen and dust, and then airborne mold spores which are microscopic living organisims that grow and reproduce in warm, humid places and last there are odors and chemicals which include things like cleaning supplies, paints, and pet odors. If you are in a new home there is a higher likelihood of chemicals and in an older home you are at more of a risk for mold and mildew. There are many different air purification systems on the market. We use and recommend the Lennox PureAir Air Purification System. The PureAir system helps reduce the amount of everything from dust mites and mold spores to infectious bacteria and viruses. It is also one of the only indoor air quality systems that safely removes and destroys odors and chemical vapors. The PureAir Air Purification System is made up of three different parts. A MERV 16 Precision Pleat filter, two 55-watt UVA lamps and a metal insert that is coated with a catalyst that’s activated by UVA light. The system reduces concentrations of pollutants through a process called photocatalytic oxidation which combines three powerful air purfiiers. The filter captures particles and bioaerosols, removing them from the airstream, then as the chemical and odor filled airstrem flows over the UVA lamps, the airstream is exposed to the catalytic surface and then the light energy and water vapor in the air activate the titanium dioxide catalyst, which generates hydroxyl radicals. These hydroxyl radicals attack the carbon compenents of the odors and chemical vapors, breaking them down into carbon dioxide and water. Bad indoor air quality can effect the health of you and your family. The more odors and chemical vapors that are in your home the more likely you or a family member might suffer from shortness of breath or diziness, especially if there is already an underlying ailment such as asthma. It is beneficial for everyone in your home to breathe good quality air. The benefits of installing a Lennox PureAir Air Purification System include not only cleanliness and comfort but most importantly the health of you and your family.