Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are compounds that evaporate at room temperatures, and some are harmful to your health as well as to the environment.  Interior paints historically have contained significant levels of VOCs, but Sherwin-Williams and PPG Architectural Finishes had been selling what they called “zero” VOC paints with some success.  Continue reading →

Extreme cold isn’t limited to the outdoors. If there’s a power outage or an overworked heating system breaks down, or the home isn’t sufficiently insulated, families not adequately prepared can be in real danger. Even if everything seems to be working, dangers can lurk.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that before the temperature starts to drop, make sure you have an easy to read thermometer. Especially if there are young children or elderly people in your home whose bodies may be more susceptible to lower temperatures, depending on the often hard-to-ready thermostat thermometer can let it get dangerously cold. Also, having thermometers around the house makes it easy to see where it’s getting too cold before the thermostat, usually kept in a warmer interior room, gets the message. Continue reading →