Survey Finds Many Americans Believe Air Inside Their Homes Is Cleaner Than Outdoor Air, Despite Data Suggesting Otherwise

Business Wire, August 5, 2008

Nearly Two-Thirds of U.S. Homeowners Are "Concerned" or "Very Concerned" About Indoor Air Quality; More Than 70 Percent Say They'll Seek Air Quality Features When Shopping for a New Home

DENVER -- There's no place like home - except when it comes to air quality.

A survey released today by Denver-based Johns Manville found that more than a third, or 38.0 percent, of U.S. homeowners believe the air inside their homes is cleaner than air outside their homes. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says a growing body of evidence suggests air inside homes and other buildings can be "more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities."

There are a variety of sources of indoor air pollution, according to the EPA, including building materials containing substances such as added formaldehyde; wet or damp carpet; certain household cleaning products; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; the combustion of oil, natural gas or wood; and outdoor air pollutants such as radon or pesticides.

According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the average American spends about 90 percent of his or her day inside, making indoor air quality an important issue, particularly for people with asthma or allergies. An EPA report, "The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality," says polluted indoor air can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

The survey found 65.7 percent of U.S. homeowners are "concerned" or "very concerned" about indoor air quality. By comparison, a total of only 33.2 percent of homeowners said they are "unconcerned" or "very unconcerned" about indoor air quality.

The most common homeowner strategies for improving indoor air quality, according to the survey, included purchasing an air purifier (23.7 percent); cleaning heating/cooling duct systems (23.6 percent); upgrading furnace or heating system components (16.7 percent); making ventilation improvements (15.8 percent); and eliminating or reducing individual sources of indoor air pollution, such as building products containing added formaldehyde or those that give off VOCs/fumes (8.6 percent). Some 37.7 percent said they had not taken any steps to improve their homes' indoor air quality.

More than two-thirds of survey respondents said they were "somewhat likely" (41.7 percent) or "very likely" (30.8 percent) to look for homes with features that enhance indoor air quality when shopping for a new home. By comparison, 12.1 percent said they were "somewhat unlikely" and 5.8 percent said they were "very unlikely" to look for homes with features that enhance indoor air quality.

The online survey of 1,001 U.S. homeowners was conducted on behalf of Johns Manville, the global building products manufacturer. The survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and was conducted July 21-23, 2008.

As Temperatures Rise, Indoor Air Quality Can Decline

Homeowners should pay particular attention to their homes' indoor air quality during the summer, when many homes are closed up tight and air conditioners are running to combat the summertime heat, according to Dean Johnson, host of the PBS "Hometime" television show and recognized home improvement expert.

"August is the hottest month of the year in many parts of the U.S., and homes have been tightly sealed all summer, trapping dirty indoor air. In addition, heat and humidity can cause the glue in ordinary fiber glass attic and wall insulation to break down more rapidly and release formaldehyde into the home," Johnson said. "Newer homes can be even more susceptible to poor indoor air quality, because building codes now require homes to be built and sealed more tightly to improve energy efficiency. And most new homes do not have continuous mechanical ventilation, which gives them the added issue of tightness with low ventilation rates."

Breathing Easier at Home

To improve indoor air quality, Johnson said homeowners should look for products that have been recognized by the Home Safety Council (HSC). For instance, the HSC in 2006 awarded its "Commendation Award for Product Innovation for Consumer Safety" to Johns Manville's (JM) complete line of Formaldehyde-free[TM] fiber glass building insulation products, citing JM's contribution in helping consumers maintain a safe home environment.

Johnson offered these tips for homeowners who want to improve their homes' indoor air quality:

* Follow California Environmental Protection Agency recommendations and select or specify building products free of added formaldehyde, including insulation and wood products, when adding a room, finishing a basement or adding attic or wall insulation

* Use paints free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

* Purchase mold-resistant building products

* Install low VOC carpets

* Use cleaning products that emit less VOCs, are allergy-free and do not contain ammonia, fragrances, dyes, chlorine and other known irritants

* Help your home "breathe" by providing adequate ventilation. Signs of poor ventilation include condensation on windows or walls, stuffy air, dirty air systems or mold growth