Hi,
In a message dated 4/9/99 11:42:34 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<<Hummm, i'm probably defending this topic a little too strongly.>>
LOL! hey Jeff...you don't have to convince me about the value of house
plants. I'm a believer...don't know how you got off on that track:)
Sometimes it's easy to pick up the wrong idea from E_mail that is often
quickly written, top of mind. he he.
I think we are talking more about more healthy house choices to prevent
indoor pollution in the first place. And then secondly ways to filter and
clean the air in such a system for optimal health, pollution control.
But like many have said you can't always do that. Pollution abounds... <<In
some places the outside air is worse than the air inside. >> Very true...did
I say otherwise.
<<It may not work well enough for someone highly
sensitive to toxins, but it could sure help most of the houses i've
been in.>> Agreed , big fella!
But I really think you should start from the base supposition that we
are basically in the same camp, and agree on many concepts, and philosophies.
Not all:)
<<Part of the reason for using plants is to avoid this constant air change.
>> Huh...where did you get this from? You could never put enough plants in
your bathroom, kitchen etc. to make that work. Sure you can have an
outhouse...but many of us are not willing to go that far..especially in
winter:)
No doubt though that plants can help by putting some oxygen in the air,
taking up carbon dioxide etc. perhaps coupled with cross ventilation, well
located registers it might work...especially if you are willing to put up
with conditions deemed less comfortable by many.
Heck if you are comfortable at 62 or 80 degrees you can eliminate a lot of
stuff. Are you really saying that that is the way we should be looking at
things? If you start pushing that envelope we could also go back to TIPIS
and Yurts...they worked eminently well for generations.
However...do you really think the majority of folks could live that way?
Rather i'd try to design and build affordable housing that takes advantage of
passive solar, active solar( far too cumbersome except for water heating ,
costly, and high tech for me at this stage...progress is being made though
)natural, low tech systems, natural products including plants, wood, natural
fibers etc. that are available. I'd like to build with rammed earth, or straw
but it's not as easy as it sounds, and not as cheap either. And if you screw
up...you have a long term problem. Just look at the early efforts into
solar. Some of those solar panels never really work well, and attached
greenhouses were often so hot in summer that they caused more problems than
they were worth.
Sure we know more now, and can design them better. But like you or someone
else said shading, insulating curtains, proper eave length , trellises etc.
can all help to temper that. But that requires effort too. I'm OK with that.
Many prefer automatic systems that require little effort in this harried
world. ( Now that is part of the real problem...we must slow down and smell
the roses, immerse ourselves in nature:)
I also think we'd be foolish not to utilize technology where it fits our
sustainable goals, and beliefs.
For examplle someone on a green building list I'm on mentioned Isoboard as an
alternative to expensive counter top surfaces. It's made from straw and
someother stuff that is supposedly environmentally safe. Great...I'd love to
hear more about such products especially if they cost less than the
alternatives.
<<Air filters are added to the definition of "earth friendly"
and their path goes forward. Unfortunately, they are going
backwards and do not realize it.>> I empathize with the sentiment, and like
you would prefer not to have to filter the air...but tell me how to
accomplish the same thing by other means. Plants can be a part of the
solution...but you need others too. And some of those other ideas are very
conflicted!
I'm always open to suggestions...finding better ways.
I believe that we should all " tread more lightly" on this earth. I believe
that we must counter the crass materialism that pervades so many
cultures...especially ours.
Oh well I better get off now. It's just that Jeff's comment probably hit me
the wrong way, and I felt a need to explain. Normally don't do that(BG)
Sorry... Frank
