Known for its beautiful mountain ranges, valleys, a hub for the arts, music and agriculture, North Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic seaboard in the southeastern part of the United States. Energy and sustainability fuel many facets of life throughout the state.

A catalyst for homes, schools, industries, universities and businesses, the diversity of enterprises is driven by a common bound to move to a greener, more sustainable form of living. While we all use energy to power our daily activities, many people take renewable and sustainable methods for granted. Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will save you money!

Asbestos Tips in the Home

Asbestos was heavily used throughout the 20th century as a prominent form of insulation for piping, roofing, flooring, auto-mobiles and military applications. Sites where asbestos has been used extensively include steel mills, power plants, shipyards and other marine industries.

When remodeling or purchasing a new home, there are many things to consider. Commonly used to insulate boilers and pipes, most homes built after 1980 could harvest asbestos or other environmental defected insulation techniques. Asbestos is a form of insulation which is swiftly becoming obsolete because of environmental awareness and new protocols. Asbestos could be present in different forms in buildings built in the years 1930 to 1975. If any asbestos is suspected, the best advice is to leave it un-disturbed. Touching or breaking it off may cause it to become damaged and release its fibers into the air.

Asbestos can be found in attics, pipes and ceilings. Improper insulation was used in millions of homes throughout the 20th century and while it is safe when enclosed or in good condition, deteriorated asbestos can cause a slew of health problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma causes are as a result of inhaling asbestos fibers that become ingested in the inner linings of your lung. There are a number of factors that can impact mesothelioma survival rate. These factors include latency period, age of diagnosis and cigarette smoking.

NC Goes Green

With growing education and technology in green sustainable energy and building resources, North Carolina has taken actions to ensure safety and health is a top priority in this great state. Most people are unaware to the fact that Eco-friendly products can cut energy costs by 25 % per year. Due to these recycled materials, waste is decreasing in crowded landfills.

On February 17, 2009, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Included in this act were extensions of the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives first enacted in 2005 as well as some new tax credits for people building or remodeling their homes using eco-friendly or “green” materials.

Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods. Currently, many cities in the U.S. have created lumberyards which re-store where you can purchase recycled building materials that are authentically strong and inexpensive.

Proper insulation will save you on bills. The Department of Energy concluded that cooling and heating counts for up to 50-70 percent of all energy used in the average home in the U.S. In today’s state, this philosophy can also save natural resources. Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods.

Environmentally sustainable methods of insulation are made from recycled materials including cellulose, polyurethane foam and cotton fiber. Statistics show that the lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 25 percent annually. With growing education and technology, green sustainable methods of industry and construction need the support of the whole world and it is definitely getting a significant boost through states such as North Carolina.

References: www.asbestos.com