Green Roundtable Non-Toxic Home Guide

The Green Roundtable
(copyright © Green Roundtable 2007)

and

Non –Toxic Home
Maintenance

Green Roundtable

Consulting, education, training
and strategic planning

to create healthy environments by
integrating principles of
sustainability into mainstream
planning, design and construction.


Questions for today
How can you:
• Improve the IAQ of your home through use of
less-toxic home maintenance and personal care
products
• Minimize risks associated with previously
installed or applied building products and systems
• Reduce your use of dangerous or toxic
chemicals that may endanger you, your family and
the environment at large
• Minimize risks associated with „naturally-
occurring‟ hazards in the home


“The Triple Bottom Line”

• People

• Planet

• Prosperity

5

Some sobering facts…

There are currently 1,243 EPA Superfund sites
on the National Priorities List and 60 more
proposed (as of 3/20/07)



The incidence of asthma has increased
dramatically over the last 25 years in the U.S.
and other industrialized nations.

7


The EPA estimates that indoor air can be up
to five times as contaminated with VOCs as
outside air.

8


The EPA also reports that the airborne
contaminants found in our homes are three
times more likely to cause cancer than the
pollutants outside



Cancer clusters have been identified in
some more-affluent communities and have
been attributed to chemically-intensive
landscape management practices

10


A 15-year study in Oregon concluded that
women who work in the home have a 54%
higher death rate from cancer than women
who work outside the home


12


According to the MWRA, up to 20% of toxic pollution
in sewage comes from our homes



Water tables are now falling in countries that
contain over half the world‘s people

14

Sources of danger

• Products/ chemicals used to maintain your home

• Previously installed or applied building systems and
materials

• Newly installed systems/ materials (e.g. paints,
carpeting, furniture)

• Infiltration of naturally-occurring substances such as
radon gas and dust (airborne particulates)


Sources of danger, cont.

• Risks associated with electrical appliances

• Moisture infiltration and accumulation

• Biological hazards like dust mites and pathogen-
bearing pests

• Products/ chemicals used to maintain & repair your
yard, landscape and automobile


Associated Risks
• Cancer, asthma, allergies (inc factory workers)
• Chemical sensitivities
• Disruption of human hormone function leading to
reproductive issues (―endocrine disruptors‖)
• Acute irritation & poisoning
• Premature failure of building materials & systems
• Pollution of groundwater, waterways, etc.
• Soil pollution
• Eutrophication of ponds, lakes, etc.
• Atmospheric pollution
• Poisoning of wildlife

The chemical cabinet you call home

• Cleaning products
- General cleaning
- Disinfectants
- Laundry
- Dishwashing
- Drain cleaners

• Paints/ protectants / polishes/ lubricants
• Indoor pest management
• Cosmetics & personal care products
• Dry cleaning


The gifts that keep on giving!

• Combustion appliances

• Particle board furniture, countertops, etc

• Asbestos pipe insulation, floor tiles, etc.

• Paints and varnishes

• Lead paint

• Insulation


Treating yourself to some new risks

New paint, carpeting, upholstery and
furnishings made from laminated,
engineered or ―pressed wood‖ products
often emit dangerously high levels of
harmful VOC‘s. Most notable among
them: Formaldehyde


Pass the Camels please!

• Radon gas infiltration

• Airborne particulate infiltration


Don‟t touch that TV!

• TV‘s, CFL‘s, copiers, microwave ovens, etc.

• Ozone

• EMF‘s

• Mercury- Thermometers; CFL‘s (end of
useful life or if damaged in use)


Water, water, everywhere

• Mold

• Rotting and decay of wood structural elements

• System failure due to moisture ‗fouling‘ (appliances,
insulation, etc.)

• Water staining and drywall failure

• Destruction of home furnishings

• Efflorescence


Uninvited guests (biological hazards)

• Insect and animal ‗invaders‘ can be vectors for
diseases

• Dust mites can contribute to allergies, asthma, etc.


Outdoor maintenance hazards

• Lawn, landscape & garden care, including outdoor
pest management

• Driveway, deck, patio & siding maintenance

• Auto maintenance

• Walkway de-icing

• Miscellaneous (e.g. pool maintenance)


General ways to address the risks

• First ask: Is this maintenance routine really
necessary
• Eliminate or avoid systems / features that require
significant use of resources to maintain (e.g. lawns,
swimming pools)

• Assess the risks of using commercial products. Learn
what the chemical ‗nasties‘ are, know which are in the
products you use, and think twice about using them
• Find safer commercially-produced alternatives

• Use safer alternatives found around the house (the
home ‗formulary‘)

Addressing the risks, cont.

• Address moisture infiltration and moisture sources
within the home
• Reduce infiltration of contaminants
• Provide adequate ventilation
• Store chemicals away from living spaces
• Understand risks associated with removal/
demolition and disposal, and take adequate
precautions
Note: Sometimes a less-than-benign maintenance
routine is better than the alternative of premature
wear/ replacement with its associated resources use

Some product use rules-of-thumb

• Mechanical methods often safer- e.g. good old-
fashioned elbow grease

• Water-soluble products often more benign than
solvent-based

• Non-aerosol-dispensed products often safer

• Don‘t pull out the ‗big guns‘ until you need them!
begin with the simple


The Non-Toxic Home


The „Nasties‟

• 2,4-D
• Ammonia
• Arsenic
• Benzene
• Chlorine
• Formaldehyde
• Hydrocarbons
• Ketones, including acetone
• Methylene chloride


The Nasties, continued

• Mineral spirits; petroleum distillates
• Naphthalene & paradichlorobenzene
• Nitrobenzene
• Perchloroethylene
• Phenol and cresol
• Pthalates
• PVC
• Toluene
• Trichloroethylene


Using (or using up) „conventional‟ products
• Always read the label and follow directions

• Be mindful of ―Caution‖ vs. ―Warning‖ vs. ―Danger‖

• Know what‘s in them; do the research
• Don‘t buy more than you need. Avoid mega-sized refill
bottles just because they seem to be a good value.
• Try using in smaller quantities or more diluted
• If VOC‘s or other gases emitted, ventilate area well
• Dispose of properly

Things to avoid sending down the drain

• Paint

• Solvents

• Phosphorus-based cleaners

• Pharmaceuticals


More benign commercial alternatives

• Ecover (www.ecover.com)

• Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com)

• Orange Glo International (www.greatcleaners.com)

• Trader Joe‘s

• Safer‘s garden products

• Cal Ben (www.calbenpuresoap.com)

• Shaklee‘s (www.shaklee.com)


Assessing the risks of commercial products

• Check for ingredients on label

• Check ―SIRI‖ database for Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) at http://siri.uvm.edu/index.html

• Check for known dangers/ toxicity at NIH
Household Products Database
(http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm)


Assessing the risks, continued

• Check NIH Toxnet Database
(http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/)

• Contact manufacturer

• Make sure cleaning & maintenance products are
third-party certified

• Check cosmetics at www.safecosmetics.org


3rd Party Resources for Judging Products

• Online green product databases (e.g. GreenSpec)

• Certification organizations (GreenSeal, FSC, etc.)

• LCA software tools (BEES, PHAROS, etc.)

• Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheets

• Other online databases like NIH hazardous materials
database
(http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm)


Online resources

Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-
http://www.buildinggreen.com


Product Certification

• GreenSeal (www.greenseal.org)

• Scientific Certification Systems
(www.scscertified.com)

• GreenGuard (www.greenguard.org)


Green Seal Product Categories

• Anti-Corrosive Paints (GC-03)**
• Commercial Adhesives (GS-36)
• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (GS-05)+
• Degreasers (GS-34)
• Food Service Packaging (GS-35)
• Green Procurement Criteria (GS-38)***
• Household Cleaners (GS-08)
• Industrial & Institutional Cleaners (GS-37)#
• Occupancy Sensors (GC-12)


Green Seal Product Categories

• Paints (GS-11)**
• Powdered Laundry Bleach (GC-11)
• Printing and Writing Paper (GS-07)
• Recycled Content Latex Paint Standard (GS-43)
• Re-Refined Engine Oil (GS-03)
• Tissue Paper (GS-01)
• Windows (GS-13)
• Window Films (GS-14)


Software tools

49

A sampling of software tools

• BEES 4.0
(http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.htm)

• Pharos (http://www.healthybuilding.net;
http://www.pharosproject.net/)

• Sylvatica (http://www.sylvatica.com/tools.html)

• LISA (http://www.lisa.au.com)


PHAROS


The Precautionary Principle

Precautionary Principle: "When an activity raises
threats of harm to human health or the
environment, precautionary measures should be
taken even if some cause and effect relationships
are not fully established scientifically. In this
context the proponent of an activity, rather than
the public, should bear the burden of proof." -
Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary
Principle, Jan. 1998
(http://www.sehn.org/wing.html)

53

Some things we may want to write off:

• Vinyl-based products

• Products containing heavy metals like arsenic

• Products containing halogenated fire-retardants

• Products that emit excessive amounts of
formaldehyde

• Appliances that contain HCFC‘s and do not meet the
standards referenced by LEED


Other things that may merit caution

• Anti-bacterial cleaners

• Chlorine in drinking water

• EMF‘s


!!!

Avoid the complacency of assuming that the so-called
safer alternatives are not harmful. In some cases they
may simply be less harmful.
Always exercise due caution & follow manufacturer‘s
instructions for safe handling, use & disposal


The Home Formulary
(kitchen chemistry)


The ultimate „universal‟
(free) cleaners:


Universal cleaners


These are a few of my favorite things
The basic formulary:
• Table salt
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Borax
• Lemons & lemon juice
• Washing soda
• Vegetable oil
• Denture cleaning tablets


Other useful stuff

• Corn starch

• Boric acid

• Murphy‘s Oil soap or other vegetable-based soap

• Hydrogen Peroxide

• Rubbing alcohol

• Cream of tartar

• Shampoo


Cleaners
• All-purpose cleaner (like Fantastic):
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon liquid soap
1 teaspoon borax
1/4 cup undiluted white vinegar
Mix ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Use for
cleaning countertops, floors, walls, carpets and
upholstery.

• Disinfectant (―hospital grade‖):
½ cup borax in a gallon of hot water

• Glass cleaner- two ounces of white vinegar to a
quart of water in a spray bottle

The triple-play lemon

Cut half a lemon

• Use it face down with table salt to scrub your
countertops and pans (don‘t use on marble)

• Nuke it for a minute or so to ―freshen‖ your
microwave oven

• Toss it down the garbage disposal to clean and
freshen


Furniture polish

• A teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar in ½ cup of
olive oil

• Remove water rings with toothpaste or a paste of
pumice and baby oil

• Use mineral oil-based products

• For more protection, use butchers wax once in a while


Dishwashing and laundry

• Use half the specified amount of detergent and add
½ cup borax or washing soda booster to laundry, ¼ -
½ cup baking soda to dishwasher

• Mix equal parts of borax and washing
soda and use as laundry or dishwashing
detergent

• Add ½ - 1 cup (depending upon size of load) of
straight white vinegar to rinse water as fabric softener


Bathroom

• Add a cup of straight white vinegar to the toilet, swish
around and let sit for a while

• Add ½ cup borax to toilet; scrub; let it sit several
hours or overnight

• To remove mildew soak a sponge with a 50/50
solution of vinegar and water, dip in borax powder and
scrub


Clogged drains
• Keep drains from clogging in first place by treating
them with a kettle full of boiling water a couple of
times a month

• Begin with
mechanical means—
plunger, snake; clear
clog via drain trap or
clean-out plug. When
using a plunger to clear a
clog pull stroke works
best; create better suction
with some standing water


Clogged drains, continued

• Keep drains clear by pouring half a cup of baking
soda followed by a cup of straight white vinegar down
the drain once a month; let stand for a while and
follow with boiling water

• Pour kettle of boiling water down
drain; follow with ½ cup baking
soda and ½ cup salt and 1 cup of
boiling water; let stand; finish with
1 - 2 cup of heated straight white
vinegar (careful of vapors!) and a
plunger if necessary
Enzymatic cleaner


Air fresheners
• Citrus peels

• Baking soda

• Activated charcoal

• Volcanic rocks

• Aromatic oils

• Ventilation!
Open a window!


Air fresheners, cont.

• Plants!


Pesticides/ herbicides
• Use 1 or 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid to a pint
of water in a spray bottle to kill many house and
garden plant pests, including aphids and scale; or use
commercial variety insecticidal soap like Safer‘s

• Wiping the leaves with rubbing alcohol may also work

• Hot pepper wax sprays,
dormant oils and sticky traps are
also more benign control
measures (check labels/
manufacturer for affected
insects)


Critters (inside the house)

• Use diatomaceous earth for to keep ants &
cockroaches at bay (be careful not to inhale dust)

• Seal entry points

• Use 50/50 mixture of white flour
or corn starch and boric acid to
control cockroaches and
silverfish

• Keep food prep areas clean!


Combustion appliances

• Keep them well tuned

• Provide a dedicated combustion air source

• Keep flue pipes clear; use a chimney cap

• Use an adequate number of smoke and CO
detectors!!!


Existing building components

• Particle board, plywood, carpeting, upholstery, UFFI
(urea-formaldehyde foam insulation)

• Seal or encapsulate

• Provide adequate ventilation

• Remove


New building components/ furnishings

• Paint, particle board, plywood, carpeting, etc.

• Make sure paints and carpeting are GreenGuard, Green
Seal or Scientific Certification Systems certified
(www.greenguard.org; www.greenseal.org;
www.scscertified.com)

• Use exterior grades of plywood or MDF (medium-
density fiberboard); they contain phenol-formaldehyde
binders rather than formaldehyde-based resin binders,
which are generally safer

• Seal exposed surfaces of particleboard, MDF


New building components/ furnishings


Radon


Radon

• Get test kit at hardware store; send to lab

• Level should be 4 picocuries per liter or less

• Perform additional tests during alternate times of
year

• Remedies include sealing entry
points, ventilation strategies

• Use qualified professionals
for mitigation


Asbestos and Lead
• Generally safe if left undisturbed

• Sealing or encapsulating can be an effective strategy

• Don‘t flame strip or sand paint suspected of
containing lead

• Flush copper cold water pipes first thing in morning
to avoid lead leached from solder

• Use qualified professionals for identification/ testing/
mitigation!!


Moisture-related problems

• Control ice dams, basement water infiltration

• Don‘t ventilate basements and crawl spaces in the
summer!!!

• Control humidity with a dehumidifier if necessary

• Vent all bathroom fans and dryer ducts to outside

• Use qualified professionals for testing/mitigation


Dust, dust mites

• Seal building envelope to control dust

• Use HEPA rated vacuum cleaners and air purifiers

• Use walk-off mats (commercial
grade) at doorways

• Wash bedding in hot water

• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting


The trouble with turf
Lawn maintenance routines create multiple threats to
the environment through:

• Heavy fertilizer requirements

• Pesticide and herbicide use

• Need to mow regularly and the resources that this
requires (gas, electricity, oil, spark plugs, etc)

• Water use

They are energy and resource intensive. If possible,
LOSE THE LAWN! Substitute ground covers, shrubs,
flower beds, rock gardens, etc.

Lawn care (if you must)

Follow good general turf management practices:

• Don‘t cut too short

• Aerate and de-thatch

• Water deeply only once a week (~ 1‖ of water); this
promotes deep root development

• Use a drought-tolerant seed variety suitable for this
region

• Employ organic fertilizing and pest management
practices (next)


Organic turf management

• Mow with an old-fashioned reel mower

• Leave clippings on lawn to return nutrients (mow
often)

• Apply compost to lawn

• Fertilize with a home-brew fertilizer in a hose-end
sprayer (see next slide & Jerry Baker resources)


Organic turf management, continued

• Tolerate a few weeds!

• Hand-pull weeds

• Control tough weeds with spot application of a
‗home-brew‘ solution

• Apply corn gluten meal (CGM) as a pre-emergent
weed control and fertilizer


Lawn Tonic (Spring)
• 1 cup Epsom salts
• 1 cup liquid dish soap
• 1 cup Listerine mouthwash
• 1 cup household ammonia (can be lemon variety)
• 1 can of beer
• This is a slight modification of a Jerry Baker (The
Impatient Gardener) recipe. Apply with hose-end
sprayer after mowing, dethatching and seeding; treats
around 2500 sq. ft.; though some of the ingredients
may not be ‗fit‘ for household use (e.g. ammonia),
they‘re relatively benign when applied to your lawn


Spot herbicide for lawns

Mix 8 oz of straight white vinegar, 2 oz of lemon juice,
2 tbs table salt, and 1 tbs dishwashing liquid in spray
bottle
Only kills above-ground parts of dandelions, etc, but
may eradicate them with repeated application; usually
doesn‘t affect grass; works best in full sun


Corn-gluten meal

• Natural pre-emergent weed and crabgrass killer

• Provides slow-release nitrogen to lawn

• Apply when:
- Forsythias in bloom
- Soil temperature is ~60 deg. F.

• Generally applied in late April

• It really works and it‘s available locally!


Green Auto Care

• Don‘t wash your car, flush your radiator or change
your oil at home; let the professionals do it

• If you do wash your car at home, washing it one
section at a time is more efficient. Washing the car on
the lawn reduces pollutants in storm drains and soil
organisms help to break down detergents; use oily
hair shampoo (biodegradable) solution as car wash;
use more concentrated solution for road tar


Green Auto Care

• If a degreaser is needed, use commercial products
containing d-limonene or use1/2 teaspoon washing
soda (sodium carbonate, soda ash or sal soda), 2
tablespoons white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
and 2 cups hot water

• Keep tires inflated- improves mileage/ tire longevity


Green Auto Care, cont.

Best green “auto care” tip:
Reduce Your Driving!
Less driving = less wear & tear = less
maintenance = fewer maintenance
products and repair parts
Walk, bicycle, carpool, use public
transportation…you know the drill!


De-icers
• Favor mechanical ‗traction control‘; Use sand, kitty
litter or sawdust, or some combination of these

• Always ‗cut‘ de-icers, especially rock salt, with
sand; a little rock salt goes a long way

• Don‘t use indiscriminately; apply only where needed!

• Potassium Chloride (KCl), Magnesium
Chloride(MgCl), Calcium Chloride (CaCl) and Urea
can be more benign alternatives to rock salt- these
can sometimes provide needed nutrients to soil if they
end up on lawns, etc. (KCL & Urea can burn lawns;
some de-icers stain carpeting & flooring)


De-icers, continued

• Try to sweep up sand/ salt after walkways/ driveways
are dry as it can clog storm drains; re-use it if practical

• Store de-icers indoors at room temperature to
increase effectiveness and minimize quantity needed

• Clear snow & ice barriers that prevent drainage of
paving & contribute to ‗refreeze‘ ice patches


Additional considerations:

• Maintaining IAQ during the construction process
- Effective isolation of work areas
- Ventilating during process
- Pre-occupancy flush-out

• Effectively managing construction waste
- Minimize in the first place using material-
efficient design strategies
- Recycling/ diverting where possible


Dust collector

Portable dust
collector


Plastic barrier w/ zippers;
see example at:
www.protectiveproducts.com/
zipwall.html


Construction waste management (CWM)

• Include a CWM plan in the project docs

• Minimize waste by employing good design
practices and efficient construction methods

• Choose an environmentally-sensitive waste hauler

• See recycling services directory at www.wastecap.org

• Donate new left-over materials to non-profits like the
Boston Building Materials Resource Center
(www.bostonbmrc.org) & Habitat for Humanity


Construction waste management
• See http://www.carpetrecovery.org/index.php and
http://www.nps.gov/sustain/spop/carpet.htm for info
on carpet recycling/ take-back programs
• See resources like
http://www.recyclenow.com/what_more_can_i_do/ca
n_it_be_recycled/ for product specific recycling info
• See General Service Administration‘s Construction
Waste Management Database at
http://www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php?a=1
• See Institution Recycling Network‘s website:
http://www.wastemiser.com/resources.html

• See http://www.greengoat.org/


• Drywall recycling (new scrap):
GYPSUM RECYCLING AMERICA (GRA)
www.gypsumrecycling.us
135 Fawcett Street, Cambridge, MA (near
Fresh Pond)

• Good general recycling info:
http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/
departments/recycle/donaterecycle.html



• Donate or harden (kitty litter or commercial product)
used latex paint

• Use curbside recycling for product packaging! Set up
recycling containers in work areas

• Set up ―free wood‖ bin on site for cut-offs & scrap;
use scraps in woodstoves & sawdust in compost pile
(non pressure treated only!)


We have a choice……


...to shape the future
Excerpt: Scientific
American
(Sept. 2006)
„A choice between
two futures‟


Resources
GRT: www.greenroundtable.org
Building Green: www.buildinggreen.com
Energy Star: www.energystar.gov
Charles River Watershed: www.crwa.org
US Green Building Council: www.usgbc.org
Renewable Energy: www.nrel.gov
US DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

Residential Green Building Guide:
A Web Source Book for New England
www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines:
www.nahb.org


The NEXUS/ GRT Green House Doctor
Personalized and comprehensive residential
consulting services focused on:
• Indoor environmental quality

• Energy conservation

• Resource efficiency

• Design development

• Construction management

Contact Paul Marquis at paul@greenroundtable.org


And don‟t forget about NEXUS!

• Upcoming workshops
• Reference library
• Samples library
• Cyber Lounge
• Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the
pipeline)
• Local green building community


Local Resources


THANK YOU
www.greenroundtable.org
info@greenroundtable.org
617-374-3740

The Green Roundtable, Inc. (GRT) is an independent non-profit
organization whose mission is to mainstream green building and
sustainable design and become obsolete. We work toward this goal
by promoting and supporting healthy and environmentally
integrated building projects through strategic outreach, education,
policy advocacy and technical assistance.

Located in downtown Boston, NEXUS
welcomes all to come ask questions,
research topics, and attend tours and
www.nexusboston.com events on green building and
38 Chauncy Street, Boston sustainable design innovation.

Green Roundtable Non-Toxic Home Guide

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