Asbestos in a Home

Many homes or buildings built before 1980 may still contain asbestos or old corrosive building materials. This should not make you overly concerned, because asbestos exposure is easily avoidable by taking simple precautions. Many green, Eco-friendly alternatives are available which not only provide a safe and health method of insulation, they can even help in reducing annual energy costs.

Tips and Prevention:

If any asbestos is located in the home, most experts suggest to just leave it alone and undisturbed. Asbestos that is not deteriorated and left alone will almost always not pose any risks. The best action may be no action at all. When its fibers are disturbed and become airborne, it can be a cause for concern.

Home professional consultants can provide an evaluation of the home. It is not always an easy process to determine whether or not a particular insulation contains asbestos. Anyone who is unsure about the insulation in their home should have the materials in question tested. If a home inspector suggests removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and equipped in handling hazardous materials. They can perform the removal in public facilities, homes and work places.

Exposure to damaged asbestos can cause a rare but severe lung ailment known as mesothelioma. Diagnosis of these forms of asbestos lung cancer has been a difficult task because symptoms are so similar to other, less serious conditions.

Maine Going GREEN

Of interest to those involved in real estate, a citizen based environmental advocacy group called Environment Maine, is combining independent research and a tough minded strategy to overcome the opposition of special interests who seek to undermine pro environment approaches. Focusing to rid the state of asbestos use and other harmful materials, they also focus to protect the water and open spaces. Environment Maine is working hard to give the state the healthy environment that the people deserve.

Many realtors have understood this important aspect of our lives and can greatly assist clients in achieving a green home. Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. Green construction brings together many techniques which aim to reduce or eliminate the impacts in which physical structures have on the environment.

The use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose are viable alternatives that possess many of its superior qualities without the toxicity. The United Nations Environmental Program states that the use of these recycled building materials, on top of the installation of energy saving appliances and the maximization of natural lighting in a building, can reduce energy use energy use by 25 percent.