More Than Half of Iowa Homeowners Are “Concerned”

or “Very Concerned”

about Indoor Air Quality; More Than 70 Percent Say They’ll

Seek Air Quality Features When Shopping for a New Home

DES MOINES, Iowa–(EMWNews)–There’s no place like home –

except when it comes to air quality.

A survey released today by Denver-based Johns

Manville found that more than a third, or 34.0 percent, of Iowa

homeowners believe the air inside their homes is cleaner than air

outside their homes. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

says a growing body of evidence suggests air inside homes and other

buildings can be “more seriously polluted than

the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.”

There are a variety of sources of indoor air pollution, according to the

EPA, including building materials containing substances such as added

formaldehyde; wet or damp carpet; certain household cleaning products;

central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; the

combustion of oil, natural gas or wood; and outdoor air pollutants such

as radon or pesticides.

According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the

average American spends about 90 percent of his or her day inside,

making indoor air quality an important issue, particularly for people

with asthma or allergies. An EPA report, “The

Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality,”

says polluted indoor air can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and

throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

The survey found 55.4 percent of Iowa homeowners are “concerned”

or “very concerned”

about indoor air quality. By comparison, a total of 42.8 percent of Iowa

homeowners said they are “unconcerned”

or “very unconcerned”

about indoor air quality.

Nationally, the survey found 65.7 percent of U.S. homeowners are “concerned”

or “very concerned”

about indoor air quality. By comparison, a total of only 33.2 percent of

U.S. homeowners said they are “unconcerned”

or “very unconcerned”

about indoor air quality.

The most common strategies used by Iowa homeowners for improving indoor

air quality, according to the survey, included upgrading furnace or

heating system components (26.3 percent); purchasing an air purifier

(23.8 percent); cleaning heating/cooling duct systems (22.6 percent);

making ventilation improvements (10.8 percent); and eliminating or

reducing individual sources of indoor air pollution, such as building

products containing added formaldehyde or those that give off VOCs/fumes

(8.8 percent). Some 37.6 percent of Iowa homeowners said they had not

taken any steps to improve their homes’

indoor air quality.

More than two-thirds of the Iowa survey respondents said they were “somewhat

likely” (49.5 percent) or “very

likely” (23.2 percent) to look for homes with

features that enhance indoor air quality when shopping for a new home.

By comparison, 13.9 percent said they were “somewhat

unlikely” and 7.8 percent said they were “very

unlikely” to look for homes with features

that enhance indoor air quality.

The online survey of 1,001 U.S. homeowners was conducted on behalf of

Johns Manville, the global building products manufacturer. The survey

had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and was

conducted July 21-23, 2008. A representative sample of 397 homeowners

living in Iowa was also surveyed regarding their opinions about indoor

air quality.

As Temperatures Rise, Indoor Air Quality Can Decline

Homeowners should pay particular attention to their homes’

indoor air quality during the summer, when many homes are closed up

tight and air conditioners are running to combat the summertime heat,

according to Dean Johnson, host of the PBS “Hometime”

television show and recognized home improvement expert.

“August is the hottest month of the year in

many parts of the U.S., and homes have been tightly sealed all summer,

trapping dirty indoor air. In addition, heat and humidity can cause the

glue in ordinary fiber glass attic and wall insulation to break down

more rapidly and release formaldehyde into the home,”

Johnson said. “Newer homes can be even more

susceptible to poor indoor air quality, because building codes now

require homes to be built and sealed more tightly to improve energy

efficiency. And most new homes do not have continuous mechanical

ventilation, which gives them the added issue of tightness with low

ventilation rates.”

Breathing Easier at Home

To improve indoor air quality, Johnson said homeowners should look for

products that have been recognized by the Home

Safety Council (HSC). For instance, the HSC in 2006 awarded its “Commendation

Award for Product Innovation for Consumer Safety”

to Johns Manville’s (JM) complete line of

Formaldehyde-free™ fiber glass building

insulation products, citing JM’s contribution

in helping consumers maintain a safe home environment.

Johnson offered these tips for homeowners who want to improve their homes’

indoor air quality:

• Follow California

  Environmental Protection Agency recommendations and select or

  specify building products free of added formaldehyde, including

  insulation and wood products, when adding a room, finishing a basement

  or adding attic or wall insulation

• Use paints free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• Purchase mold-resistant building products

• Install low VOC carpets

• Use cleaning products that emit less VOCs, are allergy-free and do not

  contain ammonia, fragrances, dyes, chlorine and other known irritants

• Help your home “breathe”

  by providing adequate ventilation. Signs of poor ventilation include

  condensation on windows or walls, stuffy air, dirty air systems or

  mold growth

• Locate air intakes away from exhaust vents and driveways

• Use an exhaust fan when cooking

According to the EPA report, “The

Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality,”

“the most effective way to improve indoor air

quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce

their emissions,” including exposure to

formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, a colorless gas, “can

cause watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes and throat, nausea, and

difficulty breathing in some people exposed to elevated levels.”

Using building products with no added formaldehyde can be an important

part of a family’s plan to make their home

healthier and safer by reducing their overall exposure to formaldehyde.

“Besides the health benefits of breathing

clean air, it’s simply more comfortable to be

in a home with outstanding air quality,” said

Johnson. “Taking steps to enhance indoor air

quality helps improve the health, safety and comfort of the home, for

you and your family.”

“Most homeowners clearly are interested in

improving their homes’ indoor air quality,”

said Mark Ziegert, Johns Manville senior brand manager. “From

choosing fiber glass insulation with no added formaldehyde to using

paint with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), there are

many simple, practical steps homeowners can take to make indoor air

cleaner and safer for their families.”

In addition, Johnson pointed out that homeowners in areas prone to

humidity or flooding, such as Iowa, should strongly consider

mold-resistant home building products, including Johns Manville’s

MR® Faced Formaldehyde-free™

fiber glass insulation batts, which feature an EPA-registered

preservative to help protect the insulation facing from the potential

growth of mold and mildew.

Commercial Building Workers Also Concerned About Indoor Air Quality

Air quality is also a concern for workers in commercial buildings, the

survey found. Almost a third, 30.2 percent, of Iowa respondents who are

employed outside the home said the air in their place of work was either “dirty”

or “very dirty.”

In addition, more than 30 percent of respondents said “no

steps have been taken” to improve the indoor

air quality where they work.

Nationally, 34.5 percent of respondents who are employed outside the

home said the air in their place of work was either “dirty”

or “very dirty.”

Some 39.4 percent of respondents said “no

steps have been taken” to improve the indoor

air quality where they work.

According to the U.S.

Green Building Council (USGBC), scientific studies have shown that

improved indoor air quality in workplace settings, hospitals and schools

has direct benefits. Workplaces that have taken steps to improve indoor

air quality have seen increased productivity, decreased absenteeism,

reduced health care claims and minimized remediation.

About the Survey

The 2008 Indoor Air Quality Survey was conducted by Forrest W. Anderson

Research for global building products manufacturer Johns Manville. The

survey was conducted online using Zoomerang between July 21-23, 2008.

The results are based on a national representative sample of 1,001

homeowners age 18 years and older, living in the United States, and 397

homeowners living in Iowa. The survey had a sampling error of 3.1

percentage points.

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a

leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and

specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has

annual sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in

all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs

approximately 7,800 people and operates 41 manufacturing facilities in

North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jmhomeowner.com.

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