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The furnace was giving off noxious odors; the homeowner was frustrated.
The service man was thorough and competent but had been unable to
find the problem. Called in to consult, I had several theories to
check. My stool happened to be above a floor register when the problem
occurred, and I was astonished at the oily, heavy smell that came
out. However, the smell told me something: there was indeed a leak
in the combustion chamber of the oil furnace. The smell was from
oil at the point of ignition, a small explosion when combustion
is incomplete, much smoke results, and the chimney has yet to draw
the smoke away.
So we called the furnace contractor and discussed it in mechanic’s
terms. On a third inspection, he did indeed find a small crack.
This was an unusual case, and in no way is my telling of it intended
to alarm. Complex mechanical systems are prone to break occasionally.
There is no great fault; consider what is being done. A foul noxious
substance is introduced to the heart of your home, burned and then
dissipated to the wind. It’s miraculous to see it done so successfully,
that it could be so taken for granted. The problem is in the underlying
assumption: that it is okay to bring toxic elements into your home
and not expect some negative effect.
Of far greater concern is the ventilation standard for public buildings.
Human comfort is legally judged to be adequate if 80% of the tenants
are happy. This standard is set by our various government legal
experts, as one we can live with. However there are a number of
people, out of the 20% remainder, who are badly affected, who need
fresher and cleaner air.
What about oil furnaces? Oil has the danger of spills, not only
of tankers, but spills around your own fuel tank, leaking underground
storage, and malfunctioning furnaces. Most importantly, you must
consider the toxic byproducts of oil combustion. The chemistry released
by oil burning is harmful to many people.
Gas heat is more environmentally benign. Natural gas and propane
break down into water vapor and carbon dioxide. There is a small
amount of additive to account for its characteristic odor. Some
people find that they are allergic to those additives, but allergies
are usually not a problem if the system is adequately vented. Another
problem with unvented gas stoves and heaters: excessive water vapor
in winter can condense on interior surfaces and grow significant
molds, a serious health risk. Recently, I examined a house that
had an unvented gas log fireplace. The owner was quite pleased with
it, but I found the attic covered with mold. Water vapor had passed
through the ceiling and condensed on the inner surface of the roof.
If I could see inside the walls too, I’m sure I would have observed
the same there. The owner was having serious respiratory problems
which required filters and oxygen bottles.
Electricity is a wonderful heat source for people who are concerned
with cleanliness for health. All of the pollution is centralized
elsewhere, and you needn’t face the question of where it comes from
at all. However, any forced air heat can harbor mold and should
be checked yearly. As a heat source, electric heat tends to be cheap
to install and expensive to operate. There is also significant concern
that magnetic fields can have subtle side effects. In common construction,
nothing is done to shield occupants. I have not found electricity
to be a popular option for heating because of the cost, and I recommend
against it except in certain circumstances.
Wood heat is very good for you only in the sense that you must
get out in the woods and exercise furiously to get it. I have burned
wood most of my adult life. I have to say that it is among the dirtiest
and heaviest fuels. But it is renewable, and since my business requires
occasional tree trimming and felling, it is honestly come by. I
cannot recommend wood heat for everyone, only if you are an extreme
sort such as myself. The dirt carried into the house, the smoke
from backdrafts, and chimney cleaning make it a dubious choice for
a healthy household. Even though some modern catalytic converter
wood stoves are said to cause significantly lower indoor air pollution,
smoke from backdrafts and from loading the stove can still be a
problem.
Solar heating is the major source that is free from environmental
concerns, both inside and outside the home. There is no fear of
spillage, no political upheavals or wars on its behalf, no line
of supply subject to disruption, and no fuel cost. Heat is simply
collected, stored and distributed throughout the house. Passive
solar heat can provide up to 60% of your household warmth and should
be a given in every house. Active solar heat uses panel and storage
tanks with pumps and radiators. Because hot water is commonly used
to distribute heat in an active system, the hardware and backup
furnaces can be located anywhere, even outside and downwind from
the living spaces.
Solar heat and healthy homes are a good match. I needn’t mention
Y2K, but I will mention the North Carolina tax credit. What could
possibly be better for your health that also gives you money back?
Ask NC about the 40% direct tax credit. The NC Solar Center has
valuable information freely available to the public. Contact them
at 1-800/33-NC-SUN or website www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/default.htm
John Senechal’s business is Bald Mountain Homes, Inc. John specializes
in constructing solar and nontoxic homes. He can be reached at (828)255-0428.
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