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Homebuyers today are increasingly concerned about the indoor air quality of their homes.

Issues like mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals have received greater attention than ever as poor indoor air quality has been linked to a host of health problems.

To address these concerns, builders can employ a variety of construction practices and technologies to decrease the risk of poor indoor air quality in their new homes.

EPA created the Indoor Air Package to help builders meet the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air quality and energy efficiency. By constructing homes that meet EPA's stringent specifications, forward-thinking builders can distinguish themselves by offering homes that have earned this designation.

EPA's Indoor Air Package specifications were developed based on best available science and information about risks associated with indoor air quality problems, and balanced with practical issues of cost, builder production process compatibility, and enforceability. The initial specifications were piloted in several cities and revised based on input from the field.

Energy Star Builders Offer the Indoor Air Package

The Indoor Air Package is now available for all interested ENERGY STAR Partners. The current Indoor Air Package specifications (330K), dated April 19, 2007, supersede all previous versions of the specification. ENERGY STAR qualified homes that comply with these specifications and are verified with a completed Indoor Air Package Verification Checklist can earn the Indoor Air Package label.

Find more details about these retrofit suggestions at USGBC Checklist for Green Retrofits:

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs

Program your thermostat

Plug air leaks

Tune up your heating and cooling (HVAC) system

Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances

Reduce water use

Switch to green power

Explore solar

Use low-VOC products

Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your house

Use native plantings

Go Green Radio Debuts this Friday, June 27th!

Don't miss the debut of Go Green Radio this Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am PDT/12:00 pm EDT.

You can tune in to our Internet radio show by going to www.voiceamerica.com. Once there, choose Voice America under the "Network" option at the top and at 9 am you will hear our radio program live feed.

In this week's episode we'll be talking with three parents who are "Going Green" on behalf of children. These child advocates are working to protect children, and preserve natural resources for future generations.

Jill Buck, the host of Go Green Radio, wrote the "Go Green Initiative" on her kitchen table in 2002. It is now the largest environmental education program in the world.

Scott McGinnis is an actor/director living in Hollywood. He is also a proud father. His current project - Global Broadcast for Kids (www.globalbroadcast4kids.com) helps kids learn about going green through his team of junior journalists.

Stefani Newman started teensygreen (www.teensygreen.com) in July of 2007 while living in Panama. With teensygreen, Stefani hopes to help modern, like-minded parents make economical, educational, and safe eco-choices for their families without feeling the need to turn their homes upside down!

If you aren't able to tune in this Friday, no worries, you can go online and download the podcast of the show. You are also able to sign-up and have a podcast of the weekly show sent to you automatically.

PODCAST: www.voiceamerica.com

How Your House Works:
A visual guide to understanding and maintaining your home, by Charlie Wing

Before my parents allowed me to drive, they suggested I learn how to change a tire and check the oil. And learn to read the dashboard widgets!

The same might apply to a house.  The head(s) of every apartment and house might need to know the basics.  How the plumbing can be shut off in case of a flooded room.  How the thermostat works.  How the bathroom stool works.

And in the throes of learning how to take care of these minor emergencies, it just might happen that you learn how to make minor repairs that will save you many "retail" level repair bills, and give you the satisfaction of truly being the king or queen of your domain.

This book is a good start in the right direction.  It gives clear  visual diagrams to help you see beyond the obvious skins of modern magic.

Honey bees have been disappearing worldwide, and in record numbers. It is a baffling mystery because the beeds aren't found dead or sick ... the hives are just empty.  Beekeepers and farmers are panicked by the disappearance that has been named "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD).

Potential culprits are debated, with causes asfar ranging as climate change and mutated viruses to pesticides and even cell phone signals.  But the answer is elusive. 

What most people don't know is that honey bees are not "native" bees in most parts of the world.  These hard working "domesticated" bees actually originated in Europe and have been transported around the world to help pollinate crops.  Native bees are also available around the world, and are usually solitary little critters.  They don't mass in hives -- so they haven't been good for honey production and not domesticated for pollination, either.  But pollinate, they do!  Most of nature relies on native bee pollination.

One of these native bees in the US is the Orchard Mason Bee.

Mason bee nesting blocks are available at Clean Air Gardening today for $19.99

Learn more about Orchard Mason Bees at the NCSU.edu website.

The Orchard Mason Bee is the common name of a nonsocial native bee (Osmia lignaria ssp.) that pollinates our spring fruit trees, flowers and vegetables. This gentle, blue-black metallic bee does not live in hives. In nature it nests within hollow stems, woodpecker drillings and insect holes found in trees or wood. Sometimes there may be dense collections of individual nest holes, but these bees neither connect or share nests, nor help provision or protect each others' young. Also, they are active for only a short period of the year.

They are not aggressive and one may observe them at very close range without fear of being stung, which makes them excellent for enhancing our yards and gardens. They add beauty, activity and pollination to our plantings. However, they do not produce honey.

The female Orchard Mason Bee visits flowers to collect pollen for its young. She forms a small ball of pollen and nectar in the back of the nesting tube and lays an egg on the ball. She then collects mud to form a cell partition and repeats the pollen ball-egg laying process until she reaches the mouth of the tube where she caps the end with mud.

Nest Block Construction

The native eastern species of Orchard Mason Bee will nest in holes drilled in a wooden block. Untreated 4" x 6" lumber works great. Holes can be drilled in the wood on 3/4 inch centers. They should be 4-8" deep (depending upon the size lumber used), smooth, and a 5/16" diameter hole is important. A smaller hole encourages higher production of male bees which reduces the reproductive potential of the population. Blocks may be drilled from either face giving shallower or deeper holes. Shallower holes may produce more male bees. Do not drill completely through the lumber. Drill the hole to a depth about 1/2 inch from the back of the block. Attach a roof to provide protection from the midday sun and rain. Outside surfaces may be painted or stained, but do not use wood preservatives. One hole may be drilled in the back to provide a means of hanging the block. Face nesting blocks as close to the southeast direction as possible to catch morning sun and affix it firmly so that it does not sway in the wind. It should be located at least three feet above the ground.

These bees need mud to construct cell partitions, so adding a mud supply may be helpful if needed. This can be a trench or tub located nearby where muddy soil is maintained during the nesting period. The mud should not be highly organic or sandy. Clay soils work well.

Do not move the blocks during the weeks of active nesting. Once all nesting activity has stopped, the nesting block may be moved to a shelter such as a shed or unheated garage. Be gentle when moving occupied blocks at this time of year. This will give the bees added protection from predators and parasites, yet will allow them exposure to the cold temperatures that they need to break hibernation. If desired, bee emergence can be delayed for a short period by refrigerating the block in the spring until you are ready for the bees to emerge. Bees will need three days to warm up following refrigeration.

Orchard Bees are sometimes reared in cardboard tubes, hollow reeds, or straws. Cardboard tubes and straws need more protection from weather and parasites. Paper straws allow better inspection and manipulation. Plastic straws hold moisture and allow mold to develop and are not recommended. Bees may also be purchased commercially.

You can be creative with your nesting blocks. Blocks can be made from any shape wood. They may be cut to a fancy shape, be a small piece of dead tree limb, fence post or scrap of firewood. You can vary the diameter of the drilled holes to attract different species of tube-nesting bees or nonsocial, beneficial wasps.

Your Local, Native Bees

Bee species vary by ecosystem and location.  You can foster native bees that pollinate agricultural and wilderness plants by learning about your own local species and providing them with habitat.  Habitat includes plants for foraging (for both food and nesting) and even houses to encourage their prolific reproduction to keep pace with the need in local agriculture.

You can also help the native bee population by educating gardeners, lawn care professionals, farmers and homeowners about preventing unnecessary death of these bees with chemicals.  Pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals kill beneficial insects as well as unwanted insects.  By choosing to use Integrated Pest Management practices, we can foster beneficial insect populations, reduce toxins in our water and soil systems...and maintain the balance of species required to foster a thriving ecosystem.

You can help remodel your lawn and garden for natural habitat!

Your work can be in spurts..but very important!