Housing and Design Newsletter
Kenneth R. Tremblay, Jr.
Spring, 2006
PDF Verson
Healthy Colorado Homes Update
The Healthy Colorado Homes team has been very active since its creation. Some of the outcomes have been:
- Desktop training on radon delivered to agents.
- Developed a radon manual made available to agents at Extension Forum to help them conduct training with the public.
- Developed portable radon awareness/testing display.
- Radon and other IAQ information included in Housing and Design newsletter.
- Coordinated annual conference of the Housing Education and Research Association in Denver with a $20,000 grant from USDA/CSREES. The conference theme was healthy home environments.
- Our House Records and Healthy Homes for Children focusing on IAQ and home safety are in development.
- Monthly activity reports from counties revealed that the team impacted 16,077 persons during 2005.
Healthy Colorado Homes is currently writing a grant proposal for radon education. If you want to expand your radon education programs in your county and/or are interested in joining the team please contact me.
The House Handbook
The MidWest Plan Service published The House Handbook: Guidelines for Building or Remodeling Your Home in May. It is a practical handbook for making the decision to build or remodel, locating and working with needed professionals, selecting a building site, evaluating and selecting materials, and making analytical decisions about individual areas and rooms.
Chapters are:
- Creating a resident-friendly home
- Working with professionals
- Designing a home
- Selecting a location or a building site
- Social areas
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Bedrooms
- Home offices (written by me)
- Laundry areas
- Garages
- Entries, doors, halls, and stairs
- Household storage
- Foundations
- House utilities
- Building materials
- Choosing to remodel
You can order the book for $30 from the MidWest Plan Service's Web site
www.mwps.org
Electrical Safety
May is National Electrical Safety Month-time to begin year-round electrical safety awareness efforts according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
"Despite the fact that improved product safety engineering, standards, and electrical codes have reduced electrical hazards, thousands suffer from electrical shock and fires each year," said ESFI President Brett Brenner. To increase electrical safety awareness and protect those at home and in the workplace, ESFI has developed an electrical safety tool kit that includes statistics on electrical hazards and recommendations to avoid electrical shock, burns, and fires.
Electricity kills nearly 400 people and injures thousands more each year. Most of these deaths and injuries could be avoided with an increased awareness of electrical safety, such as noting locations of power lines when working outside. Power line contact with construction equipment, ladders, and gardening tools are among the leading cause of electrocutions. Use of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to protect against lethal electrical currents can also reduce electrocutions.
Estimates indicate that electricity causes 140,000 fires each year. These fires kill hundreds of people, injure thousands more, and cost billions of dollars in property damage. Aging electrical systems, combined with growing power demands, contribute to electrical fire hazards. Overloaded circuits, flickering lights, and discolored electrical outlets and light switch face plates point to the need for electrical upgrades. Addressing these hazards can save lives, reduce injuries, and cut economic losses caused by electrical fires.
For more information on electrical safety visit www.electrical-safety.org Be sure to check out the Mr. Plug Fun Book: Coloring and Activities.
Meth Resources
Methamphetamine laboratories are spreading throughout Colorado, especially in rural areas. Local law enforcement finds that oftentimes the homes of both dealers and users become the base of operations for the production of meth. One underreported by-product of meth in the home is that indoor air quality suffers tremendously, thus threatening children and adult nonusers.
Montana State University Extension Service has developed Meth. In Montana, a tool kit for community educators and teachers. The tool kit includes:
- Television public service announcements
- Video presentations
- Awareness booklet
- Poster
- Retailer information campaign
- Bookmark
- Newspaper filler ads
- PowerPoint presentations
- CD of materials for reproduction
- Youth-specific materials for teachers
The materials will educate consumers on what meth is, how it is made, symptoms and signs of use, and signs that may indicate the manufacture of meth. The impacts on communities, families, and children are discussed, as are the dangers-to producers, property owners, neighbors, and others-that accompany the manufacture of meth. For more information contact the Montana State University Extension Service Housing and Environmental Health Program at (406) 994-3451. I have one copy of the tool kit if you are interested in reviewing it.
Tips for Evacuations
According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (www.rmiia.org), a mandatory evacuation triggers additional living expenses, which are covered under most standard homeowners' policies. Evacuated residents should hang on to their receipts because they can either file a claim later or if there is any damage to their home many of those out-of-pocket expenses can be reimbursed.
- Residents evacuated from their homes should contact their agents or companies immediately and let them know where they can be reached. Contact your agent or company if you need additional living expenses while you are out of your home.
- Take home inventories and financial documents with you when you are being evacuated. Always put safety first and leave your home immediately when asked by authorities. However, if there is sufficient time to gather items, the first thing you need to take is financial documents and your home inventory.
- Financial and important documents that should be kept in a safe spot during the year and grabbed during an evacuation include banking information, insurance, stock certificates, bonds, recent tax returns, bills, checkbook, birth and marriage certificates, and copies of everything in your wallet- current driver's license, insurance cards, credit and bank cards (both front and back), social security card, and any other photo IDs.
 Hopefully, you have prepared a written or video home inventory in advance and it is kept off premises. You can also take pictures of every room in your house before you are evacuated. - Also remember to pack up medications in their original containers, a change of clothing, and identification with your current address. Otherwise, without proper identification you may not be allowed back into your neighborhood.
- Think carefully about what items are easily replaceable by insurance and what items are not, such as family heirlooms, keepsakes, and pictures.
- Tell your neighbors where you will be staying after evacuation, and exchange contact information.
When You Return
- Be prepared to give your agent or insurance representative a description of any damage. Your agent will report the loss immediately to your insurance company or a qualified adjuster. Smoke and damage from firefighting efforts (such as slurry damage) is covered up to your policy limits.
- Take photos of the damaged areas. These will help with your claims process and will assist the adjuster in the investigation.
- Prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Be sure to make two copies, one for yourself and one for the adjuster. Your list should be as complete as possible, including a description of the items, dates of purchase or approximate age, cost at time of purchase, and estimated replacement cost.
- Make whatever temporary repairs you can. Cover broken windows and damaged roofs and walls to prevent further destruction. Save receipts for supplies and materials you purchase. Your company should reimburse you for reasonable expenses in making temporary repairs.
- Secure a detailed estimate for permanent repairs to your home from a reliable contractor and give it to the adjuster. The estimate should contain the proposed repairs, repair costs, and replacement prices.
Energy Efficiency Resources
Ideas for trying to live every day in an energy efficient way are offered at the Web site www.greenerchoices.org It is provided by Consumer Reports. On the site you will find energy efficiency ratings for home and office products, electronics, cars, home appliances, and garden products. They will also tell you where you can donate and/or recycle your computers and cell phones.
Another good Web site that is localized for Colorado weather is www.SmartEnergyLiving.org It includes sections on how homes work as energy systems and gives tips on how to effectively and efficiently use energy in your home, including sections on heating, windows, insulation, air leakage, new homes, and more. Also available are downloadable forms with questions to ask contractors and links to other resources.
On this site you can also obtain a free subscription to the semi-annual magazine Smart Energy Living Magazine: Energy Solutions for Colorado Homes.
Children's Environmental Health Database
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched a searchable database called TEACH (Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health). The database contains over 1,400 references to chemicals that have the potential to affect children's environmental health. It is designed to improve the information base related to children's environmental health risks by providing a listing and summary of scientific literature applicable to children's health risks due to chemical exposure.
TEACH features a list of 16 different chemicals, including arsenic, vinyl chloride, and several pesticides. The database is at www.epa.gov/teach/index.html
National Leadership Conference on Housing and Radon
Tom Kelly, EPA Indoor Environments Division Director, made a feature presentation during the plenary session of the National Conference on Housing and Radon held in December 2005. Mr. Kelly emphasized that the science regarding radon's devastating health consequences has become ever clearer during recent years. He stressed that cost-effective measures are now well known for identifying and mitigating radon hazards in existing homes and for preventing hazards in the first place in new housing. He explained that policy and action have not kept pace with what is known, and that the political will to address the issue varies widely among states and localities and from one federal agency to another.
The National Conference had five main goals:
- Expand the number of groups committed to working on reducing the health burden from radon and the resources available to do this work.
- Develop an agenda of policy and other strategies for improving implementation of radon testing, mitigation, and protective construction standards.
- Determine next steps to achieve the policy and other strategies.
- Specify the messages about radon necessary to accomplish the agenda.
- Develop a collective statement of commitment to the messages and action agenda that will be adopted by participating groups.
For more information on radon go to www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Remodeling Recommendations
Recommendations for remodeling provided by Colorado Homes and Lifestyles, March 2006, are:
- Add 25% more money and time to your budget.
- Do your homework on paint colors, floor coverings, countertop materials, and other permanent pieces to avoid mistakes.
- Once the big decisions are made, focus on the details such as hardware, decorative molding, and woodwork.
- Be patient and expect the unexpected. The remodeling process is organic, and you might be pleasantly surprised when a project takes an unknown turn.
- Buy the best quality you can afford. The higher the quality the longer it will last and the less you will spend on remodeling in the future.
- Surround yourself with a team of people who can help achieve your vision, and do not be afraid to voice your opinion.
 According to Remodelers, Incorporated, based in Northern Colorado, here are ten questions to ask when hiring a remodeler:
- Is the remodeler experienced?
- Does the remodeler offer competitive bidding?
- Does the remodeler offer structural and interior design assistance?
- Is the remodeler friendly, flexible, easy to work with, polite, and clean?
- Does the remodeler offer a schedule of completion dates for your project?
- Does the remodeler handle change within a project well?
- Is the remodeler licensed and insured?
- Does the remodeler offer a scheduled payment process?
- Does the remodeler provide a one year follow-up walk-through?
- Does the remodeler have references and a guarantee?
Housing Trends
Rammed Earth Housing
David Easton's book The Rammed Earth House describes a building technique that is as old as history. However, this technique is very suitable for today's resource conscious and environmentally friendly needs. There is no shortage of dirt, the main component of rammed earth homes. These homes are also virtually indestructible and have a long life span. See www.rammedearthworks.com for more information.
Predatory Lending
While it is often hard to distinguish a predatory lender from one that is generally considered "sub-prime" (and thus legitimate), the California Association of Mortgage Brokers considers predatory practices to include "those practices that intentionally place consumers in loan products with significantly worse terms and/or higher costs than loans offered to similarly qualified consumers for the primary purpose of enriching the originator and with little or no regard for the costs to the consumer." Details on predatory lending can be found at www.responsiblelending.org
Energy Efficient Mortgages
The premise behind energy efficient mortgages is that mortgage companies recognize the energy savings of a home that has cost effective energy easing improvements. Because the home is energy efficient, homeowners will save on utility costs and therefore can afford to devote more of their income to the monthly mortgage payment. Check out www.energystar.gov
Go to top of this page.
Any comments, needs, ideas or suggestions can be sent to:
Kenneth R. Tremblay, Jr.
Housing Specialist and Professor
Department of Design and Merchandising
155 Aylesworth
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-5575
Fax: (970) 491-4855
tremblay@cahs.colostate.edu
|
