Fresh air and clean water are undeniably the most essential elements necessary to any home environment. Builders and contractors today rely on science-based information in the selection of construction materials, and home owners have an array of products which have been designated with such terms as "environmentally or eco friendly", "green", "carbon neutral", or "waterborne non-toxic products."

"Dust containment", and a number of additional designations previously categorized broadly as "clean air", "clean water" and "energy efficient" have given way in many cases to strict standards and environmental policies necessary toward the protection of our natural resources. But what does this new "awareness of the planet" mean to the average home owner/do-it-yourselfer who just wants to fix up his or her dwelling and make it as "family" friendly as possible?

There are two fundamental answers to this question. Both require considerable effort in terms of investigation of the premises, neighborhood building codes, and the materials already installed inside and outside—together with an informed understanding of how initial costs for remodeling projects may be quite a bit more than we think we can afford and may at the same time be a real bargain.

Planning And More Planning

A family, for example, who have been saving forever to redo a 50’s kitchen or bath will not likely be enthusiastic about replacing the five-decades-old plumbing that supports it. On the other hand failing to make the added commitment could be an intensely costly mistake considering the complexity of current health, regulatory, environmental and waste safety issues. It could also result in costly "home downtime" if the old plumbing ruptures and sends water cascading onto the new walls, floors and equipment.

It is no longer enough just to read the contents on the new product cartons. Older homes need thorough inspections of basics like plumbing and electrical foundations. Remnants of previous layers of lead paints, asphalt shingles and formaldehyde-backed carpets need to be removed, as do old containers of household cleaning chemicals and insecticides.

Like most wars … the current "insurgence" against pollution … can only be well-fought at the individual level. Headlines while helpful for the purpose of identifying issues, create havoc in actual pursuit of what to do about the pollutants and polluters.