Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: [C-L]marmoleum and hard wood-and air purifiers

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

>> Diane Simpson <coho [at] theworld.com>

>> Do you
>> still have your Living air machine? how much are the monthly operating
>> costs? How large was your house in Florida? The 3M ultra-allergenic
>> filters-- are they part of the Living air machine, or are they part of
>> an additional system?
>>> filters
>
I have the Alpine Living Air machine. If you can find a dealer near you they
will bring one and let you try it for a week or so. I had mine for 3 weeks
and wouldn't let go of it.

It costs only the cost of running a fan to circulate the air over a glass
plate in which wires are embedded. I'm not an expert on the technology but
if you do a Google search, you will find lots of information including
something from the FTC charging that they were making unproven claims (no
research). Since the FTC is usually 10 years behind on anything related to
the environment, I pay no attention.

The filters are entirely separate. I use both because I have both (filters
and the machine) but one or the other should suffice in most situations. I
had the machine in Florida and found I didn't need to use my HEPA filter
with the machine. The filters only catch airborn particles while the machine
changes the air with ozone so growing molds are killed before they become
airborne. That is why I recommended it for the mold in the floorboards. It
works in basements and place where mold grows, not just in places where the
mold drifts around in the air.

The filters are 3M and are also available from Filters-now who will do
discounts on orders of 50 or more. They will ship automatically on whatever
schedule you set up. I do a three month schedule. We haven't organized a
group purchase yet (distribution is the issue). The Ultra Allergen is the
most expensive but also the most effective and has the best airflow.

The one that is just under that one (Micro Allergen? They have 4 levels of
effectiveness) is also approved by the Lung Association for the Healthy
House. It less expensive and is only slightly less effective but the air
flow is more restricted. You want good air flow to reduce resistance with
increases energy costs.

You will probably also want to change the filters more often than the 3
months on the package. I have the fan running constantly and a fresh air
vent so I change almost monthly. That controls my allergies so I rarely have
any difficulty anywhere now. My goal was taking no medications and I reached
it a year after realizing bad air was causing the allergies. Most
environmental allergies can be treated with good air for a number of hours a
day (like overnight).

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org



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