Dangers of Going Green

Reported October 2008

TROY, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Green building is a growing trend across the country. Eco-friendly homes are being built with recycled wood, solar panels and energy efficient appliances -- but what is healthy for the environment could hide a growing problem in its walls.

Amanda Keating is glowing about her new green home.

"I’m really proud to live here, and I like to show off," Keating told Ivanhoe.

But before you build green, you need to know that if you don’t build these eco-friendly homes right -- you could be facing a costly problem.

"You can very quickly get into mold, rot and corrosion kinds of problems," Roger Morse, a green home consultant with Morse Zehnter Associates in Troy, N.Y., told Ivanhoe.

Morse says knowing where and how to go green is important.

"Materials that are recycled, which take in water much easier than natural materials, end up in a place where they absorb water," he said.

Industrial hygienists who often solve mold problems say the materials most at risk for mold include recycled wood, oriented strand board and paper. The more recycled it is, the more risk of being damaged by water.

Keating’s home is mold free -- since she used protected recycled wood for walls. She also used 40 percent more insulation than code, which cost about $5 thousand extra. Keating says her choice is paying off.

"I was pleasantly surprised by how much the house was appraised for," Keating said.

Building green increased the value of her home by 10 to 15 percent.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Roger G. Morse, AIA
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 283-7671
rgmorse@mzaconsulting.com

American Industrial Hygiene Association
Melissa Hurley
(703) 846-0740
mhurley@aiha.org

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