| So you're getting ready to remodel your home and | | | | and remodel a home. Formaldehyde is a colorless gas. |
| you want to go green as much as possible because | | | | At elevated concentrations it has a strong, pungent |
| you're trying to be more environmentally responsible... | | | | odor and can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and |
| and you also wouldn't mind saving some money on | | | | lungs. Formaldehyde is released into the home from a |
| utilities and maximizing your home's resale value. | | | | variety of indoor sources. Some resins, or glues, used |
| Where do you start? | | | | to bind wood chips or fibers into plywood, |
| A good place to start for your remodeling and | | | | particleboard, and other pressed wood products, |
| construction projects is with LEED. | | | | contain formaldehyde. Cabinetry and some floor and |
| What is LEED? | | | | wall materials are often made from such products. |
| LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy & | | | | SOME COMMON SOURCES OF FORMALDEHYDE |
| Environmental Design and is a rating system of | | | | INDOORS |
| sustainable green building and development practices. | | | | Pressed wood products: particleboard, plywood, |
| LEED is also a nationally recognized, third party | | | | medium-density fiberboard (MDF); often used in |
| certification system and accreditation program | | | | cabinetry, and wall and floor materials |
| conducted by the U.S. Green Building Council that | | | | Consumer Products: wallpaper, paint, coatings; often |
| certifies building projects meet high green building | | | | a preservative in these and other products |
| standards based on performance and measurable | | | | Coatings for Some Cabinet and Furniture Products: |
| results in five key areas of human and environmental | | | | acid-catalyzed urea formaldehyde type finishes. |
| health: sustainable site development, water savings, | | | | Combustion Appliances: wood stoves, gas appliances, |
| energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor | | | | kerosene stoves |
| environmental quality. | | | | Living in a green home means that you're helping to |
| When LEED was first created it focused on new | | | | stop the causes of climate change and using green |
| construction only but The U.S. Green Building Council | | | | materials and getting LEED certification in your |
| and the American Society of Interior Designers | | | | remodeling and construction projects can help you |
| (ASID) partnered together to create the REGREEN | | | | not only be kind to the environment but also be kind |
| Program, which has created national green remodeling | | | | to your body and your own personal health and |
| guidelines for existing homes so remodeling projects | | | | there are also financial benefits to earning LEED |
| can also receive LEED certification. | | | | certification too. |
| In the US, our homes are responsible for 21% of our | | | | When you do a green LEED certification, not only are |
| nation's greenhouse gas emissions. In the United | | | | you doing something great for the planet and |
| States , approximately 4 metric tons of carbon | | | | receiving environmental benefits like reduced |
| dioxide (CO2) equivalent (almost 9,000 pounds) per | | | | greenhouse gas emissions and health benefits such as |
| person per year (about 17% of total U.S. emissions) | | | | reduced exposure to mold, mildew, formaldehyde and |
| are emitted from people's homes. The three main | | | | other indoor toxins, you can also receive financial |
| sources of greenhouse gas emissions from homes | | | | benefits such as lower energy and water bills and |
| are electricity use, heating and waste. | | | | LEED certified homes may also be eligible for financial |
| Formaldehyde is another gas emission from homes. It | | | | benefits such as lower fees for financing and lower |
| is emitted from many materials used to construct | | | | insurance rates. |