Questions to ask before buying a home or renting.

Sure, the house looks great and it is in your price range, but what are some questions you should prepare before you buy?

Condition of the home such as:
How old is the roof? New roofs have a life expectancy that depend on the materials used and can be between 15-50 years. Make sure it does not have any leaks because it will be a huge waste of energy and heat/cooling expenses. How is the house heated? Is the house tight? Is it too tight? (link to definition of TIGHT).
What is the type of foundation? Is it solid? Old homes usually have foundation issues, which are expensive! You want a house that will last so check for signs of cracks or shifting. Depending on the geology, the house also may be sinking. Check for mold as well.
How old is the electric wiring? In my current house the wiring was all bad before my uncle came and replaced it all. It turned out to be a huge fire hazard, especially in the attic. Old wiring should be updated. We were lucky to have it done for free, but even though it can be costly, it is better to be safe than sorry.
How old is the plumbing? If your house has cast-iron pipes, there may be mineral build up, corrosion, or leaks. These should be inspected as well as the exposed pipes in the basement.
Does the home have insulated walls and attic? If so, what type? Each locale sets standards for the R factor.
The R factor value stands for the insulation ratings given on a home. Good insulation does not depend on thickness or weight and the average recommended R value in North America is R-12. This value is lowered if your home has leakage or too much moisture. This weekend I went on a field trip with my Energy and Sustainable Development class and we learned that there are three types of insulation materials including fiberglass, cellulose, and polystyrene, but the best choice is blown in Cellulose.

http://www.homeenergysavingspro.com/insulation-r-values-indiana.htm

 How does this relate to hazardous waste you may ask...well, my answer is you can definitely have problems in your home that are hazardous and I'll get there soon (Check out the link to 9 Home Health Hazards).

According to www.lung.org, in order to keep pollution out of your home you must make it smoke free and have smokers go outside. Other ways to keep your home safe is to keep the humidity levels under 50% and fix all leaks and drips so mold and other pollutants do not grow. When mold cells are inhaled, it can cause such illnesses as allergies, asthma, infections and toxic effects. Mycotoxins in the mold are poisonous to humans if inhaled or ingested. Don't leave food around for pesky pests, don't use scented candles or fragrances to hide bad smells, but rather, find the source and clean it up right away, don't burn wood because it pollutes indoors and outdoors. Don't use hydronic heaters to heat your water because it shoots soot into the air and affects the whole neighborhood. Also when using cleaning products, choose the less toxic ones because you shouldn't store hazardous chemicals in your home.

This weekend I went to Eagle Bluff Center in Lanesboro, MN on a class field trip for CHEM 301 and we learned about keeping your house healthy and safe. One such example is having your home tested for RADON. This is an invisible gas that causes lung cancer and our class discussed how neither geology or elevation has an effect on where radon is located. Your home may not have it, but radon could be found as close as your neighbors house.

http://www.indoor-air-health-advisor.com/radon-poisoning.html

Ventilation is HUGE!---so make sure you use gas appliances with vents to the outside, exhaust fans, etc. Don't turn your car on in your garage if it's attached to the house, and make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector near your bedrooms if you have gas or oil appliances. One way to have your house checked to see if it needs more ventilation (too tight) or if it is tight enough is to have a free energy audit.
Home Energy Audits help you find out how you can improve your home's efficiency. In the end, it also helps you lower the energy costs your homes have. It is possible to do it yourself, but I would get someone who has the equipment and knows what to look for. A professional auditor uses a blower door to measure how much your building envelope leaks and finds areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. This last weekend my class was able to get first hand experience with a professional as he explained what he would do in a normal situation and some examples. He also used an infared camera which he passed around for us to check doors and windows to see the difference between heat and cooled areas.

The following was taken from the August Project.

"Some building materials can cause your home to get sick. These building materials release harmful things into the air which makes it uncomfortable for people.  The home ultimately becomes congested with internal pollutants.  Winter is especially the time to watch for pollutants in the air becaue the air flow is generally less during that season. Here are some sources of pollutants:  carpets, furnace, fireplace, pressed wood cabinets and cupboards, excessive moisture.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a wide array of chemicals that seep into the air over time. A home's “new smell” can sometimes be harmful causing headaches, nausea and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.

You may be able to tell if there's a problem in your home.  Your nose can usually tell; however, professionals rely on equipment to diagnose a problem.

Newly introduced VOCs, especially in carpet, can easily be detected by the odor they give off. They smell "new." Open up a cupboard door and smell. If it smells "funny," formaldehyde may be present. If you see discolored walls, it may be mold.

Below, you'll find some simple solutions to reduce or eliminate these harmful polluntants or VOCs.

•     Change furnace filter once a month.
•     Turn on the bathroom vent fan when showering. This prevents mold growth.
•     Clean humidifier and air conditioning drain pans
•     Don't allow smoking in your home.
•     Air out new carpet, drapes or furniture before bringing them inside.
•     Clean the gutters to avoid any moisture seepage.
•     Repair cracks in basement/foundation
•     Perform regular cleaning maintenance on all fuel-burning appliances/fireplaces
•     Seal units like the gas furnace and hot water heater to prevent dangerous gases from entering."

http://www.retscreen.net/

Have you ever heard of RETScreen? Well, I never did before CHEM 301 and after spending quite a few hours on it, I can honestly say I see many benefits from using it. RETScreen is a clean energy project analysis software used worldwide and helps to calculate the "financial viability of renewable energy and energy efficiency project." It is totally free and offered in many languages. I learned a lot more about renewable energy and sustainability, but the biggest thing for me was the amount of air pollution and fatal risks of not having tests done in our homes to find if we have high amounts of carbon monoxide or radon and I would encourage you to do so and tell your friends.


Read More:
Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/
Pollution Prevention for Home
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/hs/pphhfp/index.htm
Radon Toxicity
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=8&po=0 
9 Home Health Hazards
http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/home-health/9-home-health-hazards%E2%80%94and-what-to-do-about-them/  
Home Tips
http://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/daylighting-techniques.html