Texas is blazing hot in the summertime and thus many homes are sealed up tight with their air conditioners constantly running recirculating indoor air. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission on indoor air quality,
In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors… Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home.
You could open your windows at night to air out your house or you could use products like the Airocide Air Purifier. According to their website, this purifier will “eliminate virtually 100% of your home’s Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs – fumes from household chemicals); reduce your exposure to top allergens like mold, bacteria, and dust mites; and protect your family from airborne pathogens that cause illness.” Using technology developed by NASA for the Space Station, the Airocide uses catalysts to oxidize contaminants breaking them down at the molecular level, the by-products of which are harmless. In addition to these features, the purifier is beautifully encased in a wood grain sleeve, has an aluminum grill, and uses a Reaction Chamber that should be replaced once per year ($99 from Amazon) instead of using filters. It has three settings: Low for quieter operation, High for best results, and Auto which detects when the amount of light in the room is low and automatically adjusts the setting to Low for nighttime use. It can be used in a room of any size, weighs nine pounds, and measures 18.7″ long x 6.9″ wide x 6″ deep. At $583.20 from Amazon, this is quite an expensive device, but if you have the money it sounds promising. Please visit the Airocide website for more information.
