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We all know by now that toxins in our home can affect our general health but did you know that flame retardants in the house can lower your chances to have kids?  If you are a male then pay attention.  And if you are a female who has a male than also pay attention…  Recent studies show that flame retardants, found in 96% of all house dust, can seriously lower a male’s chances of being a fertile stud.  

Surprisingly, flame retardants are found in furniture padding, draperies, electronics equipment and plastics.  These flame retardants end up in dust and then inside of us.  

Flame retardants using PBDE (polybrominated biphenyl ether) were phased out in 2004 because of their hormone altering or endocrine disturber effects.  Instead of PBDE, the industry has gradually upped the use of the organophosphate based flame retardants, TDCPP (tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate) and TPP (triphenyl phosphate).  The problem is, they still may also have hormone altering effects. 

A lot of our concern has been about levels of endocrine disturbers in pregnant women and resulting hormonal problems in infants and children. But what about getting pregnant in the first place?  Is there something going on with the male contribution side of things? Why have male testosterone levels and semen quality seen a downward trend?  Very likely that part of the reason is (more…)

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Let’s face it, no home is truly green without supporting the health of its inhabitants.  With a rise of cases where more and more people, and especially our children, are developing allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities, many are looking for solutions in the the quality of their indoor air as never before. 

Want to hear some awesome news?  We have an abundance of options to keep our in-home air as fresh as the Amazon rain forest.  OK ok, maybe not like the Amazon, but close.  Come with us on a tour of non-toxic and sustainable materials to learn some things you can do to give your lungs a break that they deserve. 

PART II

If you have learned something new here, please share it with your family and friends.  They will thank you for it.

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Some say that remodeling green is an incredibly joyful adventure.  Some feel that planning, choosing, and fighting with one’s spouse over the colors and materials is more painful than waxing ears.  Whatever your position is, these tips will make your experience more enjoyable.  Most of this advice comes from experience or friends in the community.  

When remodeling green, avoid making these mistakes: 

1.  Getting excited about eco-chic materials first and busting your budget.  It’s hard to resist starting with items like recycled glass countertops  or FSC  certified cabinets but do focus on upgrading you home’s energy efficiency first.  Start with things like water tightening you walls, insulation, windows, furnace and solar water heater.  If you have money left, go for the updates that make your nest more fun and cozy.

2.  Going overboard on upgrades for the neighborhood.  Significantly over-improving only feels good until you’re trying to sell your home.  If you only knew how often an overpriced home simply sits on the market because the homeowners are trying to recoup their fortune that they spent on remodeling…  Depending on the price range, few buyers will likely pay extra $30,000 – $50,000 above neighborhood market price, even if your home is a model of energy efficiency.

3.  Failing to take a holistic approach.  Often, when you change your home’s one component, it affects all others.  For example, (more…)

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Hello, is anyone home?

“There’s a sound outside the front door… And I know it’s just the wind… But it makes her snuggle up just a little bit closer… And it starts things happening again… 

Steamy windows — zero visibility… Steamy windows — coming from the body heat… Steamy windows –  Steamy windows.“ 

No, this is not a new poem conjured up by a drunk Realtor over the weekend, it’s a Tina Turner song .  Remember it?  Actually, if you’ve heard it enough times it will spontaneously start playing in your mind upon the sight of steamy windows.  That’s what happened to me while walking the neighborhood the other night.  I noticed very steamy windows of the house, just dripping with moisture.  Now if it was just a bedroom window, then hey, good for them, right?  Normally, that steam will be gone in 15 minutes anyways.  But when you see this in the living room window, candles lit, fireplace burning, pot cooking you can’t help not to wonder – how can they possibly enjoy breathing that stuff?   

Actually, it seems that with all the focus on energy efficiency many times we miss the most important issue of it all – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).  Not only it directly affects our health, we can not have a truly green home without addressing the air that we breathe inside.  

EPA says our homes are actually packed with pollutants.  Some pollutants cause health problems such as (more…)

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Bring on the home decorations and holiday get togethers – let’s do it green and healthy.  The holiday season is here in earnest!

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