How clean is the air you’re breathing?

Probably not very. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that indoor air could be dirtier than the air that’s outdoors. The new brēth (pronounced “breathe”) natural air purifier gets rid of indoor air pollution with unique technology that has the cleaning power of almost 200 houseplants! brēth uses just three plants, packaged in a cute, easy-to-maintain planter that takes up barely any room, to keep your air fresh and clean.

Read on to learn how to breathe better…with brēth – and how you can get your very own brēth air purifier, available on Kickstarter.

INDOOR AIR CAN BE REALLY ICKY!

Indoors is where we spend about 90% of our time, either at home or at work.

Unfortunately, the inside air we breathe can be contaminated with all kinds of pollutants. Most of those pollutants are chemicals that have been linked to cancer, asthma, itchy eyes, and other health problems. They include formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and other “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs).

You know that “new furniture smell” or “new paint smell,” the one that gives you a headache or makes you antsy and maybe even nauseous? Or the smell left behind from furniture polish, cleansers, and so-called air fresheners? Those smells and fragrances are made from synthetic chemicals that can make you ill, and they’re the primary source of indoor air pollution.

Here are 16 Surprising Things That Pollute The Air in Your House

HOW DOES THE brēth PLANT AIR PURIFIER HELP?

brēth eliminates these harmful indoor pollutants using just three plants, an LED light, and a fan. Doesn’t that sound simple?

The fan actually captures the pollutants and sends them into a canister that also contains three plants. The pollutants get converted into organic compounds that nourish the plant roots, purifying the air in the process.

The technology works like “a miniature ecosystem,” says Mark Prescott, the company’s co-founder. The proprietary technology “greatly improves a plant’s ability to remove indoor air pollution.”

“This is the most natural purification mechanism that biology provides us to clean indoor environments.”

This video explains exactly how it all happens.

WHY PLANTS?

We already know that trees and forests help purify our outdoor air. NASA (yes, THAT NASA) wondered if houseplants could do the same for indoor air. The agency conducted a Clean Air Study that found that common indoor houseplants provide a natural way to remove toxins from the air.

The NASA study identified more than 50 houseplants, including pathos, spider plants, and dracena, that do a particularly good job cleaning the air. Those are some of the same plants that brēth uses to do the same. Ray Greenstreet at Greenstreet Growers, who co-created brēth and who is an expert at building “living green walls” to help purify the air in bigger office complexes, took NASA’s research and his company’s own expertise and voilá: brēth technology so you can breathe better.

IT WORKS WHETHER YOU ARE GOOD WITH PLANTS…OR KILL THEM!

The beauty of this system is that it works whether you’ve got a green thumb…or whether you’ve killed every plant you’ve ever tried to take care of.

⇒The brēth unit is self-contained.

⇒ It comes with a monitor that tells you when the plants need water, so you won’t forget to water or overwater, either.

⇒ The attached full-spectrum LED light makes sure the plants get enough light, so you can keep them in an office or bedroom or kitchen or dining room or living room or nursery – whether they get direct sunlight or no sunlight at all.

⇒ An app for your mobile device monitors the air and shows you just how clean your air is staying, thanks to brēth.

⇒ The plants only require watering every 10 days, and minimal trimming.

HERE’S WHERE YOU CAN GET ONE

You can order your brēth plant air purifier over on its Kickstarter page, but you’ve only got until October 13 to do so. Buy it now, and you’ll pay just $99 (plus shipping), which is 50% off the retail price.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I occasionally work with some of the backers of brēth. However, I wouldn’t recommend this technology to you if I didn’t think it provided an important health benefit at a reasonable price. Thanks!

The post This New Plant Air Purifier Makes Breathing Better appeared first on Big Green Purse.

5 Healthy Reasons to Choose a Green Mattress

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, there are at least five good reasons why choosing one that’s green makes sense.

#1 – Conventional Mattresses May Contain Toxic Glues and Chemicals – Conventional or synthetic mattresses are usually made from components that contain toxic chemicals that could affect you or your family to varying degrees.

Three of the most common are:

• VOCs – Petroleum-based polyester, nylon and polyurethane foam all emit VOCs, carbon-based compounds that can increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse in people who have asthma or are particularly chemically sensitive (as I am). Short-term exposure may irritate the eyes, nose or throat, cause headaches or nausea, and make people dizzy. Long-term exposure could cause cancer, liver or kidney damage, as well as problems with the central nervous system. Mattresses emit the most VOCs when they’re brand new, but they will continue to “off gas” for some time thereafter. If your mattress is 10 or 15 years old, it’s probably not emitting many VOCs at this point. But if you’re buying new, take VOCs into account.

• PBDE flame retardants. Mattresses made with synthetic foams, batting, or fabrics must be treated with flame-retarding chemicals to meet the federal open-flame flammability test. These “polybrominated diphenyl ethers” are “toxic to both humans and the environment,” says the U.S. EPA. While their use has been phased out by U.S. mattress manufacturers, mattresses made in foreign countries still may contain PBDEs. And the alternatives some U.S. companies are using may not be much safer than what they replaced.

• Organophosphate flame retardants. Flame-retardant chemicals in mattresses that contain any amount of polyurethane foam are called organophosphate chemicals. Unlike VOCs, these chemicals do not become gases. You won’t be able to smell them, and their concentration may increase over time, rather than decrease. The levels emitted are usually low. But since you’re spending so much time on your bed, and inhaling deeply when you sleep, it’s definitely an important consideration.

#2 – Conventional Mattresses May Pollute Indoor Air – The synthetic chemicals found in conventional mattresses easily “off gas” into the atmosphere.  Even if you’re not sleeping on a new mattress yourself, you could feel the effects once it’s in your home because you could potentially be inhaling the gasses emitted by your conventional mattress.

#3 – Conventional Mattresses May Get Moldy – All mattresses are prone to mold, since bodies sweat during the night and that sweat can penetrate the mattress. It’s a good idea to use a mattress protector, no matter what kind of mattress you have. Amerisleep says that the “breathability of our foam/cover helps manage moisture by keeping you cool.”

#4 – Conventional Mattresses Could Provide a Breeding Ground for Dust Mites – In the mattresses Amerisleep manufactures, says the company, the dense structure of the foam it uses makes it dust mite “resistant,” meaning that it’s more difficult for dust mites to nest and feed. By the way, beware companies that make claims that their mattresses are “dust mite free.” That is probably not possible.

#5 – Manufacturing and Delivery Make a Difference, too – When buying a mattress, think about it’s entire “life cycle,” in other words, how it was manufactured, what it is manufactured from, and even how it is delivered to a store or directly to you. For example, Amerisleep says it “uses a patented process for creating its foam called VPF (Variable Pressure Foaming). This helps the company avoid using chemicals like CFC/HCFC (which deplete the earth’s ozone layer), methylene chloride, and carbon dioxide,” which contributes to climate change. The company factory recycles essentially 100% of its internal waste. It also packages up the mattress in a roll rather than deliver it flat, which reduces its shipping fuel consumption, an average of 80%.

What To Look For Instead

There are no federal regulations or standards that a company needs to meet in order to claim its mattress is “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “natural.” Your best bet is to look for companies like Amerisleep that back up their green claims with the following information:

• Specific details on what the mattress is actually made of. Plant-based foam, untreated wool, organic cotton and natural latex derived from rubber trees are greener options than synthetic foams.

• Independent certification of its product claims. It’s always reassuring when a company backs up its green claims by showing that it’s met independent and meaningful environmental and health standards. That’s the difference between ‘green’ and ‘greenwashing.’

• Manufacturing location. Look for mattresses manufactured in the U.S. or Europe, where standards regulating use of toxic chemicals in mattresses may be more stringent than those manufactured in Asia or Latin America.

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Whether for indoors or out, your best bet is to buy low- or no-VOC paint. You’ll find it offered by more than a dozen companies in thousands of colors and in standard eggshell, glossy, and semigloss finishes. You can also select no-VOC water-based stains, finishes, and paint stripper.

For specific recommendations, check out the brands that have been independently certified for health and sustainabilityby Green Seal or EcoLogo.

To get the most out of the paint you use:

Buy only what you need. Measure carefully. It’s better to go back for more than to be stuck with too much leftover paint you can’t use.

Prevent paint from drying out. Cover the paint can with plastic wrap, hammer the lid securely back into place, and store the paint upside down.

Use up stored paint. Apply it for touch-up jobs or smaller projects. Blend similar colors for larger jobs; use as a primer.

Donate leftover paint. Schools, churches, community groups, and kids’ clubs may be looking for a free way to give their buildings a face-lift, and you can take a tax deduction when you make the gift.

Don’t pour paint down the drain. You can rinse latex paint off brushes, but otherwise leave leftover paint you can’t use in open cans in a protected outdoor shed. When the paint air-dries, you can throw it away.

Circulate air. Keep windows open and fans blowing to move air- and paint fumes- out of the house. Avoid as much indoor air pollution as possible.

Lead alert: If your home was painted prior to 1978, the paint probably contains lead. Lead dust is extremely toxic, especially to children and pets. Before you paint, take the precautions recommended on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web page “Lead in Paint, Dust in Soil.” In short, never sand lead paint. Call on a professional certified in lead-paint abatement, whether the paint is indoors or outside where pets and wildlife can be exposed.

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