Kauai Asbestos Prevention & Healthy Alternatives
When searching for a new home or apartment, there are many things to consider. The path to owning a home will be one of the greatest investments in your life, but it will bring many additional responsibilities. Homes that are newly brought may often need to be remodeled. Structural repairs may be needed for those who live in areas susceptible to natural disasters.
One of the main items that go unnoticed is taking precautions to avoid Asbestos related exposure. Potential Hawaii home buyers or those remodeling older homes should be aware homes constructed prior to 1980 can still contain asbestos. This is not to make you jump out of your chair because not all asbestos is harmful and exposure is easily prevented with the proper precautions. For a diagram to see areas of a home where asbestos may be an issue, go to
http://www.asbestos.com/images/asbestos_house_diagram.gif
Asbestos Tips & Info
As awareness and protocols continue to advance, levels of asbestos have slowly began to decline in many states. Hawaii has two major military bases and oil refineries where were filled with asbestos products. Utilized in homes until the last quarter of the 20th century, asbestos was commonly used as insulation for piping, boilers, roofing and flooring. Frequent exposure can lead to the development of asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. Due to latency periods that can last 20 to 50 years, mesothelioma diagnosis is truly a difficult task for physicians.
Prior to moving into your new home or apartment, identify whether or not asbestos materials are present. If any are located, it best to leave it un-disturbed as this can damage asbestos and releases its fibers to become airborne. A home inspector can provide expert advice on the best possible solution. If the asbestos is deemed dangerous and removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous materials. Schools, places of work and other public locations must also be removed by professionals.

Going GREEN

The Hawaii Department of Health assists public facilities and home owners to comply with state and federal regulations in regards to the inspection and abatement of asbestos. If asbestos is removed, green alternative materials should be used as replacements. These include the use implementation of recycled building materials such as lcynene foam, cotton fiber and cellulose. These alternatives not only allow for a healthy and safe home, but can bring down annual energy costs.

Residents in Hawaii are taking steps to move to a green paradigm, installing eco-friendly construction practices throughout the state. The United Nations Environmental Program states that the use of these recycled building materials, on top of the installation of energy saving appliances and the maximization of natural lighting in a building, can reduce energy use energy use by 25 percent.
Living in a world where environmental sustainability is a vital concern to the future of mankind, it is important to take note of the consequences of improper building materials and environmental degradation. They allow for a healthy home, free of any damaging materials.
Are you looking for a "Green Home" in Kauai? Go to www.KauaiRealEstateProfessionals.com, where you can look for yourself, or we will search for you!