The Greening Of Your Montgomery AL Home
As you may already know, the addition of live plants in your home is a frequently used decorating tool which creates a relaxed atmosphere, adds visual impact, and fills empty spaces. But did you also realize that “bringing nature inside” actually makes your Montgomery AL home a healthier place?
Indoor environments are filled with dangerous volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) given off by furniture, paint, plastics, adhesives, carpets, insulation, furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, and building materials--but don’t despair! One NASA study found that common houseplants--in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and providing humidity--can improve indoor air quality by removing up to 87% of air toxins from your Montgomery AL home
in 24 hours.
Once interior pollutants are decreased in your home, you and your family will most likely experience fewer coughs, colds, headaches, sore throats, and less fatigue by as much as 30%. Studies have also shown that the presence of green houseplants generates a calming effect on the inhabitants, especially children. One study in England found that restlessness and behavioral problem among children in rooms containing plants was reduced by 70%! Also, since green plants absorb noise, they help relax the nervous system, thus lowering stress levels.
So what plants to choose? All houseplants improve the quality of indoor air, but some are particularly effective purifiers. Many of these originated in the tropics in low light, so they are efficient at processing and absorbing gasses needed for photosynthesis. Most are also insect resistant and are fairly easy to grow. Especially popular are the following:
- Mother fern
- Boston fern
- Philodendrons
- Palms
- Ficus
- Peace lilies
- Ivy
- Rubber plants
- Spider plant
Mix it up and have a variety of types. Don’t ignore corners; not all plants need to be near a window. Take care of your plants so they can do their job; keep the soil/root area clean and avoid overwatering, which can cause mold!
, some mulch contains potentially hazardous materials. To ensure that your brand/type is not harmful, look for an MSC (Mulch and Soil Council) product label on the bag.
Use pipe insulators to keep hot water hot for a longer time and a hot water heater blanket ($10.00 to $20.00) to both prevent temperature loss and reduce the amount of electricity/gas needed to maintain the water temperature. Be aware that the further heat or air conditioning has to travel, the greater the temperature loss. Insulating your heating and cooling ducts can prevent up to 60% of this loss. Remember that even a small area of 
