The Air Quality Index in Delhi NCR is off the roof. It is a concerning matter that has made the daily lives of people extremely difficult. The effects of the growing air polllution is being felt by individuals as soon as they step out of the house through constant coughing, wheezing, falling sick, lowered immunity, and long-term ill effects. Air pollution is not just a worry for the present but one that we need to resolve if the future quality of life is expected to improve. While pollution in itself demands systemic solutions, it can be helpful to create a greener and healthier home that improves air quality within and protects your family’s health.
Outdoor pollution can often infiltrate your home through windows, doors, and ventilation systems. PM 2.5 particles, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants can easily accumulate indoors, sometimes reaching concentration levels much higher than the outside. However, the good news is that you have more control over the indoor environment than the outdoor environment.
How to Choose a Greener Home?
Having a greener home not just means staying indoors in a house that is free from the outside pollution but it also means making eco-conscious choice and choosing builders that have utilized cleaner materials for building your home.
- When you are choosing your home, make sure you choose a home that has well-stripped doors and windows to prevent polluted air from entering.
- When buying a house, an apartment, it is extremely important to look at its air circulation. Apartments, especially in Delhi and NCR , can sometimes feel boxed in without windows, limited air flows, and a growing number of houses.
- A green home includes use of bamboo flooring instead of synthetic materials and natural fiber carpets and rugs, clays or lime based plasters for walls and double or triple glazed windows for better pollution and insulation and pollution barriers
- The house you choose should allow you to create green barriers through balcony gardens and vertical gardens that act as pollution buffers. Green walls with climbing plants or building exteriors are also useful in keeping the house cool and pollution free.
- Terrace gardens can also reduce heat and filter air before it enters homes.
- Energy efficiency can also be maintained by using solar panels that reduce the dependence on polluting power resources and saves on electricity bill.
- The house you choose should have natural ventilation that can help reduce the usage of ACs and fans. Windows should at least be 3.5 feet high with the provision of cross ventilation as it serves the purpose of circulating polluted air much better.
- Try to choose houses that also have the option of rainwater harvesting as it helps increase the groundwater resource and cut down on water wastage.
How to create a greener home?
- Invest in quality air purifiers
Increasing pollution rates has also increased the sales of air purifiers as they help in cleaning the air indoors and making it more breathable and less toxic. Invest in quality air purifiers with HEPA filters for bedrooms and large living areas.
- Indoor Plants
You can also use natural air purifiers such as snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies as they can absorb toxins and improve air quality. It is important that you place these plants strategically with one large plant for 100 sq.ft.
- Reduce indoor pollution sources
This can be done by switching to electric or induction cooking instead of gas stove as it emits nitrogen dioxide. Use low VOC paints, furniture, and cleaning products so that no toxic elements are released in the air.
At Bluella Realtors, we make sure that our interior designers work with you to give you the cleanest and greenest indoor solutions.
Effective Ways to Improve Air Circulation to Beat pollution
Closed rooms can easily become stagnant, trapping heat, moisture, and pollutants, making it uncomfortable to stay. Hence, a few adjustments can encourage better airflow and make it easier for you to breathe.
- Use fans strategically
Fans are the most simple and effective tools to boost airflow in a room. Consider using air circulatory sealants designed not only to cool but keep the air moving throughout the room. These create a steady breeze, making your space fresher and more balanced.
- Install air circulators or ventilation boosters
These create air circulation in your room when natural air flow isn’t available. This eliminates stagnant pockets of air and keeps the atmosphere fresh. It can also, these ventilation boosters can easily be added to existing ducts or vents to enhance air flows in rooms. Also, make use of exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to remove indoor pollutants.
- Keeping your vents, filters, and ACs clean
Clogged vents and dirty filters can slow down air flow, making the ventilation effort useless. No matter what you are using, be it an air conditioner, portable unit or air circulator, or even an air purifier, make sure that all the components are clean and well-maintained.
While we work towards systematic solutions for outdoor air quality, we also have to ensure that we as buyers and consumers make careful choices that do not add to carbon footprint and reduce the negative impacts that comes from buying houses that are designed without keeping the earth in mind. Use of LED lights, better water harvesting systems, help in conserving natural resources, reducing energy costs, and for a more sustainable living and lifestyle. Every home that becomes a clean air haven is a step towards a healthier Delhi and NCR. Your home can be your family’s first lines of defence against pollution. Start today and invest in homes that help you breathe easier tomorrow.