Another admonition from the presenters was to understand a product and its use in a particular environment. According to the presenters, material efficiency must include reducing the amount of material used by reducing the size of the structure or exposing the structure in order to eliminate drywall, paints and other covers. The American Lung Association of Washington trains volunteers to conduct free in-home environmental assessments that can help you and your clients learn more about the health risks from home pollutants. The training is designed for people who want to learn how to make their homes healthier, and who are willing to share their knowledge with others. Training focuses on how and why indoor pollutants affect our health, how to recognize indoor pollution, and how to drastically reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in the home.
Many homes have health hazards that can be easily reduced or eliminated when identified.
In other cases, the volunteers refer clients to a professional. Recently Paula Springer, Northwest EcoBuilding Guild Director, had a HEAL done on her home. For instance, contractors are advised to launder their work clothes separately from household washing and are advised to avoid wearing work shoes in the house. For the past year, several Guild members have participated in developing the Northwest Regional Sustainable Building Action Plan, a process for mainstreaming sustainable design and construction practices in the Pacific Northwest. More than 200 people met in a series of four workshops and two blue ribbon task force meetings.