Eragorn Northe

2010 InfraMation Conference, Las Vegas, Lots and lots of information shared on Building Science, HVAC systems, even information on using thermal Imaging for Veterinary use.

Keeping Current with Continuing Education, just got back, What a Blast!

Now, We get to incorporate what we learned on Thermal Imaging and how it would apply to a Home and the systems in it. With, soon to come a Thermal Imaging Camera to enhance the business.

Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continue to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air.

But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest -- your home. Many ordinary activities, such as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning and redecorating, can cause the release and spread of indoor pollutants at home.

Studies have shown that the air in our homes can be even more polluted than outdoor air. Many Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, often at home. Therefore, breathing clean indoor air can have an important impact on health.

People who are inside a great deal may be at greater risk of developing health problems, or having problems made worse by indoor air pollutants. These people include infants, young children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Many factors determine whether pollutants in your home will affect your health. They include the presence, use and condition of pollutant sources, the level of pollutants both indoors and out, the amount of ventilation in your home, and your overall health.

What are Biological Pollutants?
Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. They promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work and school, and of doctor and hospital visits. Some can even damage surfaces inside and outside your house. Biological pollutants can travel through the air and are often invisible. Some common indoor biological pollutants are:

• animal dander (minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin);
• dust mite and cockroach parts;
• infectious agents (bacteria and viruses); and
• pollen.

Some of these substances are in every home. It is impossible to get rid of them all. Even a spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth: nutrients and moisture. These conditions can be found in many locations, such as bathrooms, damp or flooded basements, wet appliances (such as humidifiers and air conditioners), and even some carpets and furniture. Modern materials and construction techniques may reduce the amount of outside air brought into buildings, which may result in high moisture levels inside. Using humidifiers, unvented heaters, and air conditioners in our homes has increased the chances of moisture forming on interior surfaces. This encourages the growth of certain biological pollutants.

Requirements for Bat Houses

• The house's interior should be roughened and grooved at least every 1/4-inch, or have attached polyethylene plastic mesh.
• The house should be at least 24 inches tall, 13 inches wide and 3 inches deep.
• There must be an opening at the base of the house so the bats can get in and out. The hole should be ¾-inch to 1 inch, but no larger, as it may permit the entry of predators.
• Construct the house using screws to help prolong its life.
• Caulk the house to keep the bats warm and dry.
• Place the house at least 15 feet up and facing a south to southeasterly direction (in the northern hemisphere) in a location where it will receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. If the bat house is not getting adequate sunlight, you can paint it with non-toxic, black paint so that sunlight is more readily absorbed. Never paint the inside of the house.
• Mount the bat house atop a garage, pole, barn or house, and make sure that there are no obstacles to prevent the bats from entering the house. Trees may also host bat houses, as long as there are no leaves and branches that make the house hard for the bats to find.

InterNachi's Danya and Erica display bat houses, color optional.

Why would a homeowner want to install a bat house?

• As housing developments expand into animal habitats and forests are cleared for logging and development, bats are having a harder time finding natural places to roost. Bat houses provide shelter for these troubled mammals.
• Bats are an effective, natural and safe method of pest control. A single brown bat can consume up to 600 mosquitoes, beetles and moths per hour, many of which would otherwise wind up in and around houses where they destroy wood, fabric and food, and annoy building occupants and potentially spread disease.
• Bats roosting in the attic of a house may leave for a nearby bat house, saving the homeowner the trouble of harming the bats or forcing them to move.