Smart & Wired: Clearing the Air
March 1, 2008
"The environment is a very popular topic for manufacturers," agrees Chan Tinkle, executive vice president of Blueair, a manufacturer that developed the ECO10—which operates on 10 watts of power and uses up to 95 percent less energy than comparable units, according to Tinkle.
Still others—whole-house systems installed in conjunction with a home heating or cooling system—barely add to a home’s energy needs. "You can get the best use by keeping the filters clean, having a good duct system in place and buying an efficient system from the start," explains Jennifer Hammons, Lennox International’s specialist for indoor air quality.
Hammes says that a system’s design definitely matters when making a purchase. "Manufacturers have highly efficient motors; that’s what’s important," he says. "We’ve got a design that goes into the existing AC system, so we don’t use any energy at all. We’re using what’s already there to clean the home."
"The most important thing is not having pollutants in the house to begin with," adds the EPA spokesperson. "So don’t smoke in your home. If you have a range hood, run it when you’re cooking. Don’t spray a lot of cleaning products. Use long walk-up mats into your house, and take shoes off when you come home. Do things like damp wiping with water to keep dust down."
But there may be some people—especially those who live in high-pollution areas—who still require an air filter. Even those who don’t may like the added peace of mind that an air filter affords. Boxer Wachler says for him, the proof is in the numbers. Before installing his home system, the air had a particle count of 3,635,369. After installation, that number dropped to 58,512.
"If you know that air pollution can increase asthma and allergies, and you want to do the best for your family and provide the best environment, you understand why I installed a home filter," he says. "My surgery center filter and my home filter minimize anything that’s in the air. At home, we’re sleeping better than we were before and odors, like cleaning product fumes, are gone, too."
IQAir, 877.715.4247, www.iqair.us
AllerAir, 888.852.8247, www.allerair.com
Lennox International, www.lennoxinternational.com
Blueair, 888.258.3247, www.blueair.com
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