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Fresher Interiors
Water World
Outside air, less energy loss
Way better than opening a window,
energy-recovery ventilators (ERVs) and
heat-recovery ventilators (HRVs) expel
stale indoor air as they temper the
incoming fl ow of fresh outdoor air. That
tempering action reduces both the
cooling and heating loads. While most
ERVs are meant for climates with long,
humid summers, Panasonic makes one
that operates in both hot and cold
climates. Intelli-Balance 100
Cold-Climate ERV; panasonic.com
Safe paint To keep a lid on volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and toxins
such as alkylphenol ethoxylates, look for
coatings like Natura that are certifi ed to
meet Green Seal 11 standards. Natura;
benjaminmoore.com
Clean, fresh water is a
precious—and increasingly
scarce—resource, and we’ve made
great strides in reducing how
much water it takes to fl ush a
toilet, take a shower, or wash our
hands. Plumbing systems have
also improved, due to plastic
pipes that limit the opportunity
for leaks, and smart shutoff valves
that prevent catastrophic fl oods.
Low-VOC carpeting and rugs
Products designated as Green Label
Plus, like this residential carpeting,
contain fi bers and adhesives certifi ed
as low in VOCs. Bellera Collection;
shawfl oors.com
“ Even though our
population has grown,
water consumption is
dropping, thanks to the
new fi xtures that meet
federal water-use
regulations.”
—RICHARD TRETHEWEY
RIGHT: Richard
discusses what’s
involved in the
design and
testing of
high-performance,
low-fl ow toilets.
LEFT: TOHpainter
Mauro Henrique
says his
customers are
pleased to fi nd
that zero-VOC
paints have
no lingering
paint smell.
Tighter homes save energy
and money, but can also lead to
the buildup of airborne chemicals,
carbon dioxide, and the humidity
that causes mold growth. These
days, increased concerns about
indoor air quality have made
us more vigilant about the kinds
of products used to clean,
decorate, and furnish our homes,
and more reliant on mechanical
systems to ventilate, dehumidify,
and fi lter the air.
Impressive PEX Unlike rigid pipes,
tubing made of fl exible cross-linked
polyethylene (PEX) minimizes joints,
doesn’t split open when it freezes, and
makes radiant in-fl oor heating with hot
water a realistic option. AquaPEX;
uponor-usa.com
Water-savers Before 1994, a single
fl ush could consume up to 3.5 gallons of
water. Now the legal limit is 1.6 gallons,
but there are many toilets that use
much less, including Niagara’s dual-
fl ush, 05/.95-gallon model. Original
Stealth Dual Flush; niagaracorp.com
“ I’ve been using paints
with no VOCs for two
years and, honestly, I
haven’t noticed any
difference in quality
compared with paints
that do have VOCs.”
—MAURO HENRIQUE