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Honeywell Home Comfort Products' Second Annual 'National Care About Your Indoor Air' Month

Posted on: Monday, 9 February 2009, 11:16 CST

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout February, Kaz, Inc., the makers of Honeywell Home Comfort Products, is marking its second annual "National Care About Your Indoor Air" month. In partnership with other organizations such as the National Parent Teacher Organization and the Healthy House Institute (www.healthyhouseinstitute.com), Honeywell Home Comfort Products is working to educate consumers about the importance of indoor air quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two and five times higher -- and occasionally as much as 100 times higher -- than outdoor air. Indoor air pollution can be such a problem that the EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health. The EPA also says one-half of our nation's 115,000 schools have problems linked to indoor air quality.

There are a number of common misconceptions about indoor air quality. For instance, many consumers believe that because their homes are clean, their indoor air is clean, too. The truth is that tiny airborne particulates such as dust, smoke, mold and pet dander can be widespread in even the cleanest homes. Typically these particulates are invisible to the naked eye. And as many consumers are sealing their homes more tightly to conserve energy, they're reducing natural circulation and sealing in those airborne pollutants, making indoor air pollution even more of a problem.

While many consumers drink purified water and use hand sanitizers, most aren't doing anything to help purify the air they're breathing. Portable air purifiers, such as Honeywell air purifiers, eliminate 95 to 99.97% of microscopic airborne pollutants from the air that passes through their filters(1), and can be used in addition to other measures to improve indoor air. Some air purifiers are even effective at capturing germs such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Portable air purifiers help circulate the air in a room, usually several times per hour, to reduce airborne allergens and stale air. Consumers should use an air purifier in the rooms where they spend the most time, such as the bedroom and living areas. Honeywell air purifiers are affordable, with some units costing less than $50, feature permanent filters that require simple rinsing or vacuuming to clean (reducing landfill waste), and are energy-efficient, with some products operating for the same low cost as running a 40-watt light bulb.

"The Healthy House Institute (HHI) strives to be the most comprehensive online educational resource for creating a better, safer indoor environment," said Allen Rathey, president of HHI. "We support the ongoing 'Care About Your Indoor Air' initiative, which is an important educational effort to broaden awareness of the issues surrounding indoor air quality and its potential impact on consumer health and safety."

Another misconception is that healthy adults aren't susceptible to the effects of poor indoor air quality. While poor indoor air poses particular risks for children, the elderly, the chronically ill and those affected by asthma and allergies, everyone is affected by breathing polluted air. Effects from exposure to poor indoor air may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Honeywell air purifier products, manufactured by Kaz, Inc., are available at major retailers including Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon.com and The Home Depot.

For more information on Kaz's line of Honeywell air cleaning and comfort products, visit www.kaz.com, and to learn which air purifier is right for you, visit www.honeywellcleanair.com. Kaz is a global manufacturer and marketer of air treatment products under the Honeywell brand name. The Honeywell Trademark is used under license from Honeywell International, Inc.

(1) Microscopic particles 0.3 microns or larger

SOURCE Kaz, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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