Improving the indoor air quality in your home is not only good for the environment — it’s also good for your health and the health of your family. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most pollutants affecting indoor air quality come from sources inside buildings. In fact, indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outside! Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to make sure you are breathing cleaner air when indoors. Read on to learn more.
Make sure your cabinets are CARB2 compliant.
When shopping for quality cabinets, look for the CARB2 Compliant seal. Formaldehyde is a toxic, organic compound used to make adhesive resins for composite wood products, including cabinetry, and CARB2 sets rigorous indoor air quality standards for products to ensure a safer and greener home environment. This strict certification process was created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in order to reduce formaldehyde emissions in the home and to protect the public from the harmful effects of air pollution. When you see the CARB2 Compliant seal on a product, it means the formaldehyde levels are well within safety limits, just like our amazing selection of quality cabinets for the home at Willow Lane Cabinetry.
Update your kitchen vent hood.
If cooking odors linger in your kitchen a bit too long, it’s probably time to start browsing new kitchen vent hoods online. Not only functional, kitchen vent hoods can add an extra dose of style to your overall room design. Newer models offer dishwasher safe filters, multiple speeds, plus a delayed auto shut off function that allows you to set your hood to continue ventilation for up to 15 minutes after you leave the cooking area. These features help to ensure your kitchen is clean and pollutant free.
Make sure your flooring is NSF and GreenGuard certified.
If new flooring is on your home renovation list, you may have noticed terms like NSF Certified® and Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified®. The Greenguard Gold Certification program has established test methods and emission limits for products like flooring to help ensure safer and greener building practices. When you see the NSF certification mark, you know that product has been through extensive testing to ensure strict health and safety standards. Engineered countertop materials like Quartz and Acrylic Solid Surface should also be NSF Certified®.
Look for more ways to improve your indoor air quality.
Long-term exposure to air pollutants, as well as mold, mildew, dust, and allergens, can be a serious health hazard. That is why safer building materials, proper airflow and ventilation are vital. Here are a few more ways to improve your indoor air quality:
- Add air-purifying houseplants
- Open windows
- Regularly dust and vacuum
- Change HVAC air filters every 90 days
- Opt for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters
- Purchase an air purifier and humidifiers
Welcome to Willow Lane Cabinetry — the #1 place to buy affordable, semi-custom cabinets online! Let us help you create the kitchen, home office, home bar, laundry room, closet, TV room or bath of your dreams with our 100% free room design tool. We offer all wood cabinetry, fully assembled and delivered for free, plus all the accessories needed to complete your remodel. Visit our website to see our products today!