Green Tip of the Week: Improve Indoor Air Quality

The following tip comes courtesy the Go Green Galloway Task Force for Sustainability: Improve your indoor air quality. After all, this is where you eat, sleep, exercise and relax.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids and liquids and include a variety of chemicals found in paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, cabinetry, furniture, textiles, glues/adhesives and some craft/office supplies. Formaldehyde is one of the most notorious VOCs.

You can reduce your exposure to VOCs by making sure your home is well ventilated when painting, cleaning, etc.

Better yet, purchasing no or low-VOC paint and low-VOC cleaning alternatives (making your own no-VOC products from baking soda, vinegar and borax REALLY works).  

If you are remodeling, consider locally-sourced materials (reducing transportation carbon emissions), wood  and textiles with no added formaldehyde, and flooring options such as natural linoleum, bamboo or low- or no-VOC carpet.

For more information, call the Galloway Township Department of Community Education at 652-3700 x209 or email bfiedler@gallowaytwp-nj.gov