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Archive for the ‘Carbon monoxide’ Category

Toronto Report Names Indoor Air Quality Key Environmental Issue

Friday, April 6th, 2012

A new report that comes from a study conducted by University of Toronto and the Ontario Health Coalition names indoor air quality as one of the key environmental issues that affect the health of Torontonians.

Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of specific issues; chief among them is mold caused by moisture. In the case of mold, the age of a house or building doesn’t necessarily play a part – new homes can be as susceptible to mold growth as older structures. What’s key is the construction methods used.

Green Technology
Newer methods and technological advances in the home building industry – or “green” technology – have come up with a number of solutions to this old problem.  Among them is steel technology, some facets of which are only now being introduced to the Ontario market.

Steel-panel technology is composed of steel and an innovative variety of expanded polystyrene. Panels are joined together with screws and an adhesive foam in order to make up the outer shell of the house, eliminating the need for any wood in the frame. This type of construction is said to be stronger than the traditional wood frame and most importantly to air quality, provides an airtight building envelope that will prevent moisture entering the home. In addition, the polystyrene used is made with a chemical-free formula that is not subject to off-gassing, which is another concern when it comes to indoor air quality.

You may not be able to build your own home from scratch using these new “green” methods, but you can make sure that your old home doesn’t present the kind of environmental concerns listed in the report.

We Can Help!
ESG offers a variety of services to help give you peace of mind, including

Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.

In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!

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Posted in Carbon monoxide, Environmental consulting, Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, Mold Hazards | No Comments »

Indoor Air Quality in the Winter Months

Friday, March 9th, 2012

The winter of 2011/2012 has been unusually kind to the residents of Southern Ontario, but there have been enough days that have seen stiff winds, cooler temperatures and even torrential rains, meaning your windows and doors are likely staying shut.

Homeowners walk a kind of tightrope between energy efficiency and courting air quality issues. It’s only natural – and makes good sense – to ensure that air leaks in windows and doors are taken care of using foam, weather stripping and other means, but in some areas, the tighter your home becomes, the more risk there is of air quality issues.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one danger that increases in a tightly sealed home. If there’s a leak of any kind, it has nowhere to go. There are other concerns that can be augmented during the winter months.

Moisture = Mold

  • Tightly sealed rooms, especially a basement or crawl space, or indeed wherever there’s a leak, can lead to condensation and moisture gathering in areas where it just doesn’t dry out
  • The next step is mold growth!

Radon Gas

  • An invisible and odourless product of deteriorating uranium, this potentially deadly gas occurs naturally and rises up from the ground and into your home through cracks in the foundation and basement, especially the floor
  • Outside, it dissipates naturally in the surrounding air, but a poorly ventilated basement or crawlspace traps the gas – thought to be a leading cause of cancer – in your home

What Can You Do?

  • Ventilation is the key here – make sure that your basement and crawl space are properly ventilated
  • Keep an eye out for leaks or anywhere that water can enter your home with regular inspections
  • Hot Tip: houseplants have been shown to significantly improve indoor air quality

We Can Help!

ESG offers a variety of services to help give you peace of mind, including

Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.

In The News:

ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!

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Posted in Carbon monoxide, Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, Radon Testing | No Comments »

Indoor Air Quality in the News

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Recognition of the importance of indoor air quality and the potential health hazards that can exist inside the home continues to gain ground in Ontario, as it does in the rest of North America.

At the 15th Annual Condominium Conference in Toronto in early November, indoor air quality issues were underscored in the environmental portion of the events.  While indoor air quality testing is not yet mandated by any existing legislation, condo builders and managers aim to keep ahead of the curve in this area.

Across the province, a township in eastern Ontario recently joined the growing number of cities, provinces and states continent-wide in instituting a bylaw that requires all homes to have a working carbon monoxide (CO) monitor.

The current Ontario Building Code does require a CO monitor to be installed in all new homes, but bylaws like the one in South Dundas township extend that protection to older homes as well.

It’s certainly a step in the right direction, and recognizes the importance of monitoring indoor air quality, along with the dangers of one of the leading (yet preventable) causes of unintentional poisoning in this province. Any home equipped with a heating system that uses fossil fuels is at risk of producing CO, which occurs during incomplete burning of those fuels. Gas and oil heating systems, gas and propane driven vehicles and appliances can all produce CO, so you’ll want to be sure to install a monitor near your garage as well as the other areas of your home.

However, damage to your health can occur due to chronic exposure to levels of CO too low to be detected by your CO monitor, or they may occur in areas that it doesn’t reach. At Environmental Services Group, our equipment is sophisticated enough to detect those lower levels and give you peace of mind. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms of CO exposure, including chronic headaches and a stuffy feeling even if these aren’t necessarily acute, please do yourself a favour and call the experts at Environmental Services Group for a quote.

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or http://www.environmentalservicesgroup.ca/getaquote.phpvisit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!

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Posted in Carbon monoxide, Indoor Air Quality | No Comments »
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