This entry was written by one of our members and submitted to our blog section. The author's views below are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of Green Home Guide.
There are so many benefits to green home remodeling: reducing your energy expenses, improving indoor air quality, using sustainable products, and more. One critical component that you won't find on most green remodeling discussions is lead-safe deconstruction practices.
If your home was built prior to 1978, it might contain lead:
- 87% of homes built prior to 1940 contain lead
- 69% of homes built between 1940 and 1960 contain lead
- 24% of home built between 1960 and 1978 contain lead
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. Lead-paint poisoning affects over one million children today. Adverse health effects include learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and speech delays. If not done in a lead-safe manner, renovations and repair activities that disturb lead-based paint can expose children, as well as adults, to harmful levels of lead dust.
Readers from some states, such as Massachusetts that already have stringent lead requirements, would not consider lead-safe deconstruction to be a consumer choice. Since April 2010, the EPA has instituted a nationwide regulation: the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule.
Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP)
The RRP rule includes a training program for contractors to become lead-safe certified. Renovation contractors, electricians, HVAC specialists, plumbers, painters and maintenance staff who disrupt more than six square feet of lead paint and do not comply with the rule are subject to stiff fines. Unfortunately, knowledge of the rule is not widespread. According to the October issue of Remodeling Magazine, only 10% of remodelers are currently in compliance.
The good news is that, as a consumer, you have a choice to hire a lead-safe certified firm that will perform the appropriate lead testing on your home prior to deconstruction and address any lead issues if found.
You can learn more about renovating your older home through the EPA's Renovate Right Brochure.