With 4.1% of the world’s deaths attributed to air pollution, it is in every family’s interest to do what they can to prevent or reduce the presence of air pollutants in their home. Rather than embrace trends and statistics regarding climate change, environmental degradation, and air pollution as facts of modern life, we must all do what we can to protect ourselves and our environment from the consequences of human actions. Also, a typical home’s air pollutants can come from many different sources (smoking, cooking, cleaning with chemicals, household pets, and even your dead skin). By integrating the following tips in your life at home (and beyond), you can definitely improve the quality of the air you breathe and your quality of life!
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In-Home Air Pollution Prevention and Reduction Tips
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, there are three tactics one can follow to prevent and reduce air pollution in your home:
1. Controlling the source
Improve your home’s air quality by removing sources of air pollution or reducing their harmful emissions. Some ways you can do this include the following:
- Use a disinfecting foot mat to prevent dirt and other microbes from entering your home, and remember to take off your “outside” shoes before entering the main area of your home (guests too).
- Reduce your use of non-organic cleaning products and air fresheners, especially those containing the citrus smell-providing chemical component limonene.
- You can adjust appliance sources like gas ranges or stoves to decrease emissions.
- Don’t smoke indoors. Or don’t smoke, period. If you plan to have a fireplace or already have one, make sure it is fitted and used correctly.
- If you’re building a new home or planning to renovate, choose tiles or hardwood for your floors as they are easier to clean. Carpets and rugs are dirt magnets and can let dirt particles and pet hair escape back into the air you breathe.
In almost all cases, controlling the sources of air pollution at home is a more cost-efficient approach to improving indoor air quality than the next two tactics because you’ll save on additional energy or electricity costs.
2. Improving ventilation
Lower the number of indoor air pollutants in your home by letting outdoor air come inside your home. Even if you’re living in the city and feel like everywhere is polluted, know that it’s okay to open a window every once in a while. Letting air from outside is essential in improving good indoor air quality. It is also important to know that air enters a home via several means, such as:
- infiltration (when outdoor air flows into the house through cracks, holes, and joints in walls, floors, and ceilings)
- mechanical means (outdoor air intakes associated with air conditioning, heating, and structural ventilation)
- natural ventilation (when outdoor air passes through windows and doors)
Natural ventilation is a very easy way to improve indoor air quality! In other words, just do what your grandparents and parents did and open your doors and windows also to improve ventilation. Open the doors or windows on opposite sides of a room to create a cross breeze. When cooking, make sure to use the extraction fan, or at least open a window; otherwise, nitrogen dioxide levels can exceed the levels of polluted roads.
3. Using air purifiers and cleaners
Solely using air purifiers and cleaners are no real substitutes for proper ventilation, but they can reduce the possibilities of virus and microbe transmission. Many sizes and types of air purifiers and cleaners are on the market, each with various features depending on the price range. For example, some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal. In contrast, most table-top models are much less so. Air purifiers and cleaners are generally not designed to remove major air pollutants, like black smoke. Instead, air purifier effectivity depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air (usually expressed in percent) and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element.
If you prefer a more organic solution, get some houseplants. Some studies have found that plants could reduce levels of formaldehyde in the home. Just remember that indoor houseplants should not be over-watered because overly damp soil may promote microorganisms’ growth, affecting allergic individuals.
Thankfully, if you don’t possess a green thumb, properties by real estate companies like Ayala Land Premier provide adequate access to green areas and spaces. After all, going outside for some fresh air is always a good idea – no matter where your home is.
Author’s Bio:
Angelo Castelda is a freelance writer and digital nomad who loves to travel around Asia. He finds comfort in working around the beautiful islands, mountains, and beaches of the Philippines, which is where he usually draws inspiration when writing about travel, lifestyle, and real estate.
