by Nick Gromicko and Rob London 
  Raising plants indoors is a home-healthy move because of their ability to clean the air of carbon dioxide, but their benefits don't stop there. It turns out that the average houseplant can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and a host of other toxins that plague typical indoor air.   It may come as a surprise, but indoor air is often much more polluted than the air outside. Off-gassing from paints, adhesives, and even unsuspected items, such as clothing and tap water, infuse the air we breathe will a host of chemicals, many of which are proven carcinogens. Newer, tighter homes are especially problematic, since they limit the amount of fresh air that can make its way into the interior. Compound this with the average time that citizens of developed nations spend indoors -- approximately 90% -- and the need for remediation becomes clear. Answering this need can be as simple as the addition of green, leafy plants to the living space.  

Interesting Facts

• Harmful indoor pollutants are responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year, according to a 2002 World Health Organization report.
• Removal of environmental airborne toxins with the aid of plants is called phytoremediation.
• In addition to the removal of these pollutants, plants can reduce stress, increase work performance, and reduce symptoms of ill health.

Study Performed by NASA

While researching the ability of plants to cleanse air in space stations, NASA made some fascinating and important discoveries concerning the role that houseplants play here on Earth. They tested the ability of a variety of plants to remove common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. The toxins tested include:

• benzene:
  • found in petroleum-based indoor coatings, gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, rubber, cleaning solutions, plastics, and exterior exhaust fumes emanating into  buildings;
  • an irritant and probable carcinogen. Inhalation of benzene has been reported to cause dizziness, weakness, euphoria, headache, nausea, blurred vision, respiratory diseases, tremors, irregular heartbeat, liver and kidney damage, paralysis and unconsciousness.
• trichloroethylene (TCE):
  • found in a wide variety of products, such as inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesives;
  • is a potent liver carcinogen.
• formaldehyde:
  • found in virtually all indoor environments due to its widespread use in many kinds of products. Specifically, it may be found in:
    • urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), particleboard and pressed-wood products;
    • paper products, such as grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels;  
    • common household cleaning agents;
    • stiffeners, wrinkle-resisters, water-repellents, fire-retardants and adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes; and
    • heating and cooking fuels, such as natural gas and kerosene, and cigarette smoke.
  • Formaldeyde causes watery eyes, nausea and wheezing. More seriously, the chemical is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
• toluene:
  • found in adhesives, disinfectants, rubber, printing ink, lacquers, and leather tanners;
  • Symptoms in low doses include sleepiness, confusion, weakness, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color-vision loss. High levels of toluene may cause light-headedness, unconsciousness, and death.

In the NASA testing, flowering plants, such as chrysanthemums and gerbera daisies, effectively removed benzene from the chamber's atmosphere. Golden pothos, spider plants and philodendron were the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Other top performers were red-edged dracaena and the Peace Lilly. The rest of the plants tested, with the exception of Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum), were effective at removing at least one of the chemicals from the air. NASA researchers found that plants absorb airborne substances through tiny openings in their leaves, but roots and soil bacteria are also part of the purification process.

The study concluded that in an 1,800-square-foot house, occupants should incorporate 15 to 18 houseplants in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers to improve air quality. The larger and more vigorously they grow, the better. 

India Study

The government of India published the results of a groundbreaking study in September of 2008 that analyzed the effects of certain species of plants on indoor air quality. Three plant species -- areca palm, pothos (known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue), and the Money Plant -- were tested for 15 years at the Paharpur Business Centre and Software Technology Incubator Park in New Delhi. The building was 20 years old and 50,000 square feet, and it housed more than 1,200 plants for 300 workers. The study found that the building had the healthiest indoor air in the city. Specifically, compared to other buildings in New Delhi, the building showed reductions of:

• eye irritation by 52%;
• respiratory conditions by 34%;
• headaches by 24%;
• lung impairment by 12%; and 
• asthma by 9%.

In addition, energy costs were reduced by 15% because less outside air infiltration was required. Worker productivity showed an increase of 20%, perhaps as a result of fewer sick days and increased blood-oxygen levels.

In summary, plants can be used to enhance the air quality inside buildings.  

Michael Ivie InterNACHI Member Cornelia Ga.

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London  

Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charges on the surface of non-conducting materials. It is called "static" because, unlike a home's electrical system, static electricity has almost no current. Static typically forms when two materials come into contact, and some of the charges redistribute by moving from one material to the other. This leaves a net positive charge on one material and an equal negative charge on the other, both of which will remain if the two materials separate. If the net charges grow faster than a material can dissipate them, an electrostatic charge builds up. The excess charge can suddenly neutralize by a flow of charges to the surroundings, known as an electrostatic discharge or static spark. By superheating the surrounding air and causing it to rapidly expand, the discharge is both visible and audible.  

Interesting Facts About Static Electricity

• Ordinary household static can have voltages many times greater than the home's electrical system. A static shock is not ordinarily dangerous, though, because the current is comparatively low.
• Scientists believe that lightning is caused by the exchange of charges between ice particles within clouds. Lightning is thus a scaled-up version of the static discharges with which we are accustomed. 
• During the Great Depression, swirling dust-bowl winds caused tremendous buildups of static electricity that were powerful enough to knock a person unconscious. Blue flames erupted from metal fences, electrical systems in cars shorted out, and people would drag chains in order to offset the electrostatic charge.

Static Electricity Hazards

Static may create sparks and shocks, and cause materials to cling together. These phenomena are typically merely annoying, but, under the right circumstances, they can cause significant damage to life and property. Specifically, static electricity can cause:

• fires and explosions, where flammable vapors and dust clouds can occur. Static has caused deadly explosions in buildings that filled with natural gas;
• nuisance shocks. While typically harmless, these shocks can cause significant distress to building occupants. In rare situations they can cause bodily harm, such as when hot fluids are handled and a static shock causes inadvertent recoil; and
• damage to sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers and cell phones. One static-plagued InterNACHI member reported that she managed to disable the Caller ID feature on her phone by repeatedly "zapping" it, and she also put her microwave to sleep. Beware that even mild or imperceptible static discharges may be powerful enough to render a computer inoperable, or even erase its hard drive.

Static Limitation Strategies

There are many variables that contribute to static electricity in homes, including the physiological makeup of an individual, their walking habits and shoes, carpet materials and construction, and the amount of moisture in the air. To help ensure that static-friendly conditions are avoided, inspectors can pass the following tips on to their clients: 

• Humidify the living space. When the air is humid, water molecules collect on the surfaces of household materials, which prevents the buildup of electrical charges. Humidity levels of 40 to 50% are usually sufficient to prevent static discharges, and you can check the humidity with an inexpensive humidity meter from a gardening shop. Beware that high humidity levels will promote the growth of mold, which can be a far more dangerous condition than excessive static electricity.  Try these other tips to increase indoor humidity:
  • Use a humidifier.
  • Incorporate a variety of leafy indoor plants. Plants effectively turn liquid water into water vapor, similar to a mechanical humidifier. 
  • Simmer a pot of water on the stove, but don't forget that the stove is on! 
• Consider your clothing.
  • Switch to natural fibers, since synthetics pick up more of a static charge. If you must wear synthetic fibers, do not allow them to touch; separate nylon and polyester layers with cotton, for instance.
  • Wear leather-soled shoes. Also, try not to drag your feet on the carpet.
• Use an anti-static hand lotion if your hands are dry.
• Spray carpet surfaces with an anti-static product. Fabric softener has anti-static properties, and it may be diluted and then sprayed onto the carpet. These chemicals eliminate buildup of static electricity by making the material itself slightly conductive, either by being conductive itself, or by absorbing moisture from the air. These products may be sticky and attract dirt, however.
• Wear an anti-static wrist wrap. These antistatic devices are used to prevent electrostatic discharge by safely grounding a person. They consist of a stretchy band of fabric woven with conductive fibers made from carbon or carbon-filled rubber.

In summary, static electricity can cause distress for building occupants, but it can be controlled. 

InterNACHI Member Michael Ivie Cornelia Ga. 30531

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London
    Nationwide, homeowners' associations (HOAs) govern the approved uses of millions of properties. While HOAs ostensibly uphold property values by ensuring uniformity or a community's aesthetic standard, they sometimes interfere with individual homeowners' attempts to install photovoltaic (solar) panels.   All over the country, conservative HOAs are trying to prevent homeowners from installing panels, even going to court over the issue.  As some homeowners seek to install new energy-efficient solar panels, many are finding that their neighbors and HOAs object, saying the additions defy historic-district regulations, or will look ugly, or will damage property values.   "[A]greeing to projects without regard to the architectural guidelines of the community can create divisiveness and can affect property values," said Frank Rathbun to the Wall Street Journal.  Rathbun is spokesman for the Community Associations Institute, an education and advocacy group based in Alexandria, Va. But residents say their right to invest in alternative energy trumps the sensibilities of neighbors who don't like how the panels look.   Of particular concern to many HOAs is solar panel color, which is usually selected based on financial and efficiency concerns.  Black, for instance, is a costly yet efficient choice, but it often fails the test of blending in with the colors of its surroundings. In 2007, the plans of an Arizona woman to build a solar-powered swimming pool were stalled when her HOA demanded she use a different color. PV panels come in muted colors as well, such as terra cotta and grey, but homeowners who want the most efficient panels will be stuck with black. In another case, the community board for Palos Verdes, Calif., homes rejected the permits for proposed PV panels because they were blue, rather than a more eye-pleasing shade of black. Bradley Bartz, a homeowner in the complex, complained that black panels were 30% more expensive than the panels he wanted.  

Responding to aesthetic concerns, some photovoltaic companies have been building products with unobtrusiveness in mind. Standard Renewable Energy has introduced a system of racking that positions solar panels to appear flush with the roof. This company will not only install solar panels, they will also help the homeowner sell the plan to an HOA or zoning board. Some companies offer solar roof tiles, which are cut to look like typical roof tiles and, thus, stand out less than standard solar panels. Other PV companies will try to appease zoning boards by offering an additional, free, colored panel to match the efficiency of conspicuous black panels.

Results of the battles between homeowners and their HOAs have been mixed. A few interesting cases are described below:

• Former Vice President Al Gore ran into trouble while trying to install solar panels on his Nashville home. A local zoning board initially refused to consider the application, but eventually gave in after appeals, redesigns, and a home inspection. Gore's community has since revised its laws to allow solar panels.
• The Saracheks became the first family in Scarsdale, New York, to gain approval from the town to install solar panels on their home, but only after a lengthy battle. In March of 2007, the town denied the family permission to install the panels because they were "not in keeping with the character of the community." The family subsequently spent tens of thousands of dollars fighting the town before winning approval in a 4-3 decision by the town's board of architectural review.
• When Santa Clarita, Calif., resident Marty Griffin's request to install solar panels was denied by his HOA, he installed them anyway. The association sued him and a jury ordered him to move the panels to a more discreet location.

In summary, some homeowners who try to install solar panels are finding resistance from their HOAs which fear the new devices will detract from the communities' appearance and reduce property values. Laws, however, are increasingly changing to protect the rights of the homeowner.  

Using the new information that is now available about drinking water, citizens can be aware of the challenges of keeping drinking water safe and take an active role in protecting drinking water. There are lots of ways that individuals can get involved. Some people will help clean up the watershed that is the source of their community's water. Other people might get involved in wellhead protection activities to prevent the contamination of the ground water source that provides water to their community. These people will be able to make use of the information that states and water systems are gathering as they assess their sources of water.  Concerned citizens may want to attend public meetings to ensure that their community's need for safe drinking water is considered in making decisions about land use. You may wish to participate when your state and water system make funding decisions. And all consumers can do their part to conserve water and to dispose properly of household chemicals.

by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kate Tarasenko
 

Relocation is often stressful and time-consuming, but rarely do we wonder about the impact the process has on the environment. This is amplified when moving to a smaller house or condominium, and additional decisions have to be made regarding items that must discarded in order to save space.  If we don't make these decisions deliberately, our choices can generate a lot of trash, and waste energy and natural resources. Fortunately, we have other options so that, when the time comes, we can relocate -- along with our stuff -- responsibly.

Some measures to consider before moving day:

• Buy less.  The less you accumulate, the less you will have to discard when it comes time to relocate. Also, fight the urge to be a pack rat by recycling and giving items away as they become obsolete to you. If you put off these decisions until the day you have to relocate, many of the things that you're on the fence about keeping will likely end up in the trash because you'll be too preoccupied by the move to put the effort into thoughtful and responsible disposal. 
   
• Discard items in a responsible manner, rather than merely throwing them away. Non-biodegradable trash doesn't disappear; it just accumulates in new locations where it contaminates groundwater and soil, off-gasses methane and other greenhouse gasses, and overwhelms otherwise useful land. By taking a few extra steps, you can save money, help others, and minimize your impact on the environment.
  
  Sort through your belongings and decide what you don't want to take with you, separating them into defined groups based on how best to dispose of them. For instance, separate your unwanted items that are in good working order, and can be reused by a friend or neighbor, from other items that require special disposal, such as hazardous chemicals or large, bulky items. See the following sections on how to identify items for reuse, recycling and special disposal. 
  
  
  
  • Recycle. With a minimum of effort, you can recycle old magazines and newspapers that you do not want to take with you to your new home. Glass, metal and plastics are also easily recyclable, and you will conserve some of the raw materials and energy required to produce these items by re-offering them. Many of the items you clean out from your home might be recyclable in your community curbside or drop-off recycling program. To determine what items you can recycle, contact your local environmental agency or waste-pickup service.

Time to think about indoor and outdoor safety. Todays tip is on pesticides

.Pesticides are poisons designed to kill a variety of plants and animals, such as insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), and mold or fungus (fungicides). They are each composed of an inert carrier and a pest-specific active ingredient, both of which are toxic to humans and pets.   Human Exposure   Pesticides may enter the body in one of the following three ways, which are ordered from least to most dangerous:

• absorbed through the skin. People can get pesticide on their skin because it is likely to splash or mist while mixing, loading or applying the chemicals. Skin contact may also occur while touching protective clothing, a piece of equipment, or any other surface that was exposed to pesticides;
• swallowed. Numerous reports exist of people accidentally drinking or eating a pesticide that had been placed in an unlabelled container, or by children whose access was not adequately child-proofed. Toxic substances can also be ingested when eating or smoking near those who have handled the chemicals; and
• inhaled. Powders, airborne droplets and vapors can easily be inhaled. Low-pressure applications present a relatively limited hazard because most of the droplets are too large and heavy to remain in the air. High-pressure applications, however, are particularly dangerous because the droplets are small enough that they can be carried by winds for considerable distances. Pesticides with a high inhalation hazard should have a label that instructs the user to use a respirator.

Health Effects and Symptoms of Pesticide Exposure   The health effects of pesticides are specific to their ingredients. Organophosphates and carbamates, for instance, affect the nervous system, while others may irritate the skin and eyes, influence the body's hormone or endocrine system, and even cause cancer. Symptoms of pesticide exposure may appear immediately and disappear soon after exposure has ceased, or they may take a long time -- even years -- to develop. Specific symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following.  

Acute symptoms include:

• mild poisoning:  irritation of the nose, throat, eyes or skin, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, thirst, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, weakness or fatigue, restlessness, nervousness, changes in mood, and/or insomnia;
• moderate poisoning: vomiting, excessive salivation, coughing, constriction of the throat and chest, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, rapid pulse, excessive perspiration, profound weakness, trembling, muscular incoordination, and/or mental confusion;
• severe poisoning:  inability to breathe, small or pinpoint pupils, chemical burns, uncontrollable muscular twitching, unconsciousness, and/or death.

Long-term health effects include:

• cancers (lung, brain, testicular, lymphoma, leukemia);
• spontaneous abortions and stillbirths;
• genetic damage;
• infertility, including lowered sperm count;
• liver and pancreatic damage;
• neuropathy; and
• disturbances to immune systems (including minor ones, such as asthma and allergies).

Always be careful when useing them.

Come One Come All to The First Annual Alto Georgia Wing Fling BBQ Cook-Off!!! This year not only will we have classic car and tractors, live country music, face painting, boiled peanuts, world class BBQ, hot dogs and hamburgers and a parade that stretches from one end of town to the other,for the first time in the history of Alto we will hold a Wing Cook-off! This event is sponsored by Springer Mt. farms. If you would like to join in the cook-off as a sponsor or contender contact altocityhall@windstream.net There are also vendor spaces available. Please help us in making this a fun and enjoyable day. Hope to see you all there!
June 5th 2010 10 am
Founded in 1877, Alto (previously known as "Lulah City" and "Long View") was incorporated on December 16, 1895. Alto Georgia BBQ Wing Fling cook off

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One square mile in size and 1,395 feet above sea level, it has a population of approximately 1,820 people.

Alto is located in Habersham County,
Habersham County was created in 1818 from Indian treaty lands. Georgia's 43rd county was named for Major Joseph Habersham, who fought in the Revolutionary War, was Mayor of Savannah, served in Congress and was President George Washington's Postmaster General.

A Civil War iron works in the county produced guns and cannons for the Confederacy. Most of Habersham County was spared from pillage after Confederate troops turned back Union Calvary in a skirmish near Currahee Mountain.
Habersham County

Many consider the water heater to be the most dangerous device in your house. Water heaters are equipped with a temperature- and pressure-relief valve (usually abbreviated TPV or TPR) that releases both hot water and built-up pressure if either gets too high (usually 150° F, or 300 pounds per square inch/psi). If the valve malfunctions, the heater can explode. Carefully test your valve periodically by quickly tripping its test lever. If water pours out of the discharge tube, the valve is clear of deposits and capable of performing its job. If it has been a while since you've performed this test, or if the valve is old, be aware that it might become stuck in the open position during testing. Before you begin, know the location of your main water shutoff, in case this happens.

It would be wise to have someone on standby at the main shutoff. You should also have a shutoff at the water heater.

Do not try this if your TPR valve is not plumbed properly.

The discharge piping serving a TPR valve should:

1. Be constructed of an approved material such as CPVC, copper, polyethylene, galvanized steel, polybutylene, polypropylene, or stainless steel.
2. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve it serves (usually no smaller than 3/4").
3. Shall not reduce in size from the valve to the air gap (point of discharge).
4. Be as short and as straight as possible so as to avoid undue stress on the valve.
5. Be installed so as to drain by flow of gravity.
6. Not be trapped since standing water may become contaminated and backflow into the potable water.
7. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor, or to the outdoors. 
8. Not be directly connected to the drainage system to prevent backflow of potentially contaminating the potable water.
9. Discharge through a visible air gap (atmosphere) in the same room as the water heater.
10. Be first piped to an indirect waste receptor through an air gap located in a heated area when discharging to the outdoors in areas subject to freezing, since freezing water could block the pipe.
11. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above the floor or waste receptor.
12. Discharge in a manner that could not cause scalding.
13. Discharge in a manner that could not cause structural or property damage.
14. Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by occupants because discharge indicates that something is wrong.
15. Be piped independent of other equipment drains, water heater pans, or relief valve discharge piping to the point of discharge.
16. Not have valves anywhere.
17. Not have tee fittings.
18. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the pipe so as to avoid capping. 
    

If you don't think your up to this type of testing call a trusted plumber. If the water heater is old you may want to have the TPR valve replace while you have the plumber on-site.

Here is a new real estate fourm I have joined. I would like to invite all my AR friends to join.

Real-Estate-Forums.net

These tips are for you and your clients. Pass them along.

With proper maintenance, A home's heating and cooling systems should give you many years of service. Preventive maintenance will lower your energy costs, prevent costly repairs, and prolong the life of your systems. Regular maintenance will ensure that A system is ready to heat and cool your home when needed. Most heating and cooling systems should be serviced once a year by a professional heating or cooling contractor. The professional contractor has the tools, instruments and training necessary to maintain your system for dependable, trouble-free operation. The contractor should inspect your systems, including the thermostat, the blower motor, fans, and the ductwork, as well as the AC condenser and evaporator units, and the furnace's gas connections and heat exchanger. He should also complete necessary maintenance tasks and adjust the entire system for optimal performance.    

Here are some things that you can do:

Filters:  Inspect air filters and clean or replace as necessary.

Registers:  Reduce dust in your home by vacuuming heat registers and the cold-air return as part of your regular cleaning.

Ducts:  Examine exposed supply ducts for gaps or leaks allowing heated air to escape. Look for gaps and run your hand along exposed supply ducts with the blower running to feel for escaping air. Seal any leaks with duct tape.

Listen: Listen to your condenser, evaporator and furnace when they are running. If you hear unusual noises, follow the appliance manual's directions, or consult with your professional heating contractor.

Obstructions:  Remove any objects or debris that may have fallen through the registers. Remove any drapes, furniture and other objects blocking registers, interrupting air flow, and lowering your system's efficiency.

For more tips like these visit www.nachi.org and www.ivcoinspectionservice.com