That New House Smell

Love That New Home Smell?

Today's new-home construction materials contain an excessive amount of chemicals that evaporate and off-gas into VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets, moulding and paneling, drywall, flooring and roofing materials are manufactured using toxic chemicals such as Urea-Formaldehyde and phenolic resins. Paints, stains, and sealants are used extensively in just about every room in the house, and contain VOCs that can cause serious health effects. A newly-constructed house will have a significant amount of VOCs in the air because the rate of off-gassing for VOCs is highest initially. This accounts for the “new house smell” that most new home buyers experience. After several weeks the rate of VOC off-gassing from building materials will decline; however, the off-gassing will continue at a slow and continuous pace and the gases will remain in the air for many months, and possibly years.

There have been many cases of homeowners who have developed mysterious health ailments shortly after moving into a new home.


Products that emit VOCs in Newly Constructed or Remodeled Homes:
Paints & varnishes
Building materials
Carpeting
Wallpaper
Vinyl flooring
Glues & adhesives
Cabinets and built-in bookcases made from pressed wood
Roofing shingles

All of these products are now available with low or no VOCs used in the production of these materials. New green products are made available every day. Stores like The Green Depot are popping up all over Long Island. Usually these products are cheaper as well as more sustainable.

What Makes A Product Green?

An important tool in the effort to build greener buildings and live greener lives is the selection of products and materials that were made using environmentally friendly processes and are used in environmentally friendly ways.

Green products are available for just about any daily need, and the ways they are green are many and varied:

They are energy or water efficient
They use healthy, non-toxic materials; they are made from recycled or renewable sources
They make current products you use more efficient or more durable
They are recyclable or biodegradable, among many other things.

But among all the truly green products comes the risk of “greenwashing;” that is, products that are advertised as green without truly offering environmental or health benefits. The directories below will help you sort through the claims and find the products that best meet your needs. But please note: Inclusion or exclusion of any product in these directories does not represent endorsement by ASID or the U.S. Green Building Council:

• GreenSpec Directory: The online GreenSpec® Directory lists product descriptions for over 2,100 environmentally preferable products. Products are chosen to be listed by BuildingGreen editors. They do not charge for listings or sell ads.

• GREEN BUILDING PAGES: Green Building Pages is an online sustainable design and decision-making tool for building industry professionals and environmentally and socially responsible consumers.

• GREEN2GREEN: Green2Green.org features comprehensive information regarding green building products, materials and practices. The site offers side-by-side comparisons of products using a variety of environmental, technical and economic criteria.

• OIKOS: Oikos is a World Wide Web site devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction.

• THE GREEN GUIDE: National Geographic’s Green Guide offers staff-written reviews of a host of products, ranging from appliances, home furnishings and home improvement products to personal care and pet supplies.

• GOOD TO BE GREEN: Good To Be Green is a directory of green building products, sustainable building materials and green building service providers. Products must: be made out of recycled materials; ensure a low environmental impact during the construction, operation and/or demolition of the building; conserve
natural resources like energy, wood and water; and improve air quality.

Questions To Consider When Buying A Green Product or Material

• MANUFACTURER COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
• Is there a written, working environmental policy in
  place? Is it easy to find on their Web site or product
  literature?
• Does this policy strive to make important
  improvements in manufacturing, reducing and reusing
  first, then recycling?
• Do they comply with their industry’s voluntary testing
  programs?

• EXAMINE THE PRODUCT’S COMPOSITION
• What are the raw materials used to create the product? And where do they come from?
• Did the materials come from renewable resources?
• Is the manufacturing process energy efficient?
• Does the manufacturing process release harmful
  substances?
• Are adhesives needed to make the product viable? What are they using?
• Are coatings or finishes needed to make the product
  viable? What are they using?

• EXAMINE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PRODUCT
• Does the product nurture the health and well-being of
  its occupants?
• Does the product do the job well?
• How much energy does it use?
  Does the product release VOCs? At what rate?
• How is the product packaged and transported?
• How is the product installed and maintained?
• Does it have a color or texture that can lead to reduced
  lighting energy or an expanded range of thermal
  comfort conditions?
• Can the product be maintained in a benign manner?
  Using safe cleaning products?

• EXAMINE STRATEGIES FOR DISPOSAL
• Is the product durable? Biodegradable? Recyclable?
• Can the parts be separated for recycling?
• Can it be made into something else?
• Can the product be returned to its manufacturer at the
  end of its useful life?

• COST CONSIDERATIONS
• What is the price range for the product?
• Does the manufacturer provide life cycle cost analysis
  on this product?