Connecticut Homeowners Going Green and Away from Asbestos
Connecticut Homeowners Going Green and Away from Asbestos
In the Connecticut real estate industry, many additional responsibilities may arise for those purchasing homes. While an exciting and rewarding time, additional repairs or renovations may be needed upon purchase.
As one of the small states in the country, it is ironic that Connecticut is one of the largest in terms of asbestos exposure risks. All of the known exposure sites occurred in the cities of Hartford, New Haven and Fairfield. There are many things to consider in the real estate industries.
Used in millions of homes and buildings built prior to 1980, many civilians are still being exposed to asbestos in public facilities, restaurants, schools, shipyards and other industrial locations. Asbestos is often in old fireproofing, roofing, vinyl flooring, pipe and boiler insulation, and some roads and cement pipe and cement sheet products.
Potential Connecticut home buyers or those remodeling older homes should be aware that homes built before 1980 may still contain asbestos materials. Exposure to asbestos is easily avoidable by taking simple precautions. Many green and healthy alternatives exist that replace the need for asbestos entirely.
If any suspected asbestos is located, do not touch or disturb it as this can break its fibers down and make it become airborne. A professional home inspector can determine the validity of danger and determine the best course of action to take. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of a rare, but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Due to the fact many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, diagnosis of mesothelioma is one of the more difficult tasks physicians encounter.
The asbestos scandal was perpetuated by the asbestos industry and various corporate sectors in the country who buried any evidence that suggested the health concerns associated with asbestos. The high amount of asbestos-related incidents has lead to asbestos lawyer firms advocating for victim rights.
The removal of hazardous materials must be performed by an abatement contractor who is trained and licensed in handling toxic substances. The Connecticut Department of Public Health administers an asbestos program that aims to reduce potential exposure to asbestos. Found in over 3,000 products in the state, they provide assistance in the safe inspection, removal and disposal of asbestos-contaminated areas by following state regulations. With increasing technology and public initiatives, green alternatives exist which allow for an asbestos free environment. These healthy insulation alternatives include cotton fiber, icynene and cellulose.
Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods. Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.
[This article was written by Joe Lederman and was published on this site at the request of Jesse Herman, Mesothelioma Cancer Center, Orlando, FL.]