Nevada Asbestos Prevention Tips & GREEN Options for Homeowners

Located in the western region of the United States, Nevada is known for its natural parks, lakes, canyons, casinos, and scenery. What home buyer would not want to call this state their home? The road to owning a home is a wonderful experience, but requires new responsibilities. Homes that are newly purchased may require additional remodeling or repairs. Having the assistance of an honest and reliable real estate agent can make all the difference in the world.

Potential Nevada home buyers or those seeking to remodel homes built before 1980 should be aware that asbestos materials may still be present. This should not make you jump out of your chair because asbestos exposure can be easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Citizens of this great state are striving to move to a green lifestyle by advocating environmentally sustainable methods to be used throughout the state.

Asbestos

In most situations, any suspected asbestos should be left un-disturbed. Sometimes the best action is no action at all. When asbestos materials become disturbed, broken down or friable, this is when it becomes a concern, as fibers can become airborne and presents a high risk for anyone in the area.

The inhalation of its fibers can cause a rare lung-ailment known as mesothelioma, which accounts for three percent of cancer diagnoses in the United States. The amount of asbestos-related incidents in the last few decades has lead to asbestos lawyer firms advocating victim rights around the U.S. The negligence involved with the asbestos scandal has been one of greed and dishonesty. Manufacturers of asbestos were aware of its toxic qualities, but repressed this information from the public.

The general rule of thumb is if the asbestos is in good shape, it's posing no apparent risk. If it's in bad shape, it could be a problem. If a home inspector suggests removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous materials. At the present time, there is a growing list of green insulation alternatives which replace the need for asbestos.

Green Alternatives in the home

Combining tough research and political advocacy, Environment Nevada is a citizen run environmental organization seeking to produce real changes in tackling all of the state’s eco problems. Each and every human being would like clean air to breathe and crisp water to drink. It takes a lot of effort and political advocacy to achieve this on a macro level. That is what groups such as Environment Nevada focus exclusively on.

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.

The use of recycled building materials such as cotton fiber insulation can reduce energy use by 25 percent. The implementation of eco-construction, alternative energy solutions and energy reduction solutions has continued to play an important role in the transformation to a healthier and sustainable world.