Sylvane.com » Indoor Health Matters


Introducing 5 New Blueair Air Purifiers

Posted by Ashley on June 1st, 2009

Blueair 403 Air Purifier Swedish manufacturer Blueair certainly has you covered, now that it has added five new manual models—spanning a range of room sizes—to its brood of allergen-zapping and smoke-stopping air cleaners. The newest Blueair air purifiers are the 203, 303, 403, 503, and 603 models. The smallest unit, the Blueair 203, covers a space of about 175 sq. ft., and the largest, the Blueair 603, cleans an area of 640 sq. ft.

Each new air purifier is equipped with Blueair’s patented HEPASilent Technology, which performs both mechanical and electrostatic filtration to achieve an extremely high efficiency of 99.97% of particles sized down to 0.1 microns. That’s actually better filtration performance than True HEPA units, which remove the same percentage of particles down to 0.3 microns. Moreover, each unit received exceptionally high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) scores for tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust.
Read more about Blueair's new air purifier models

Fend Off Spring Pollen

Posted by Ashley on April 6th, 2009

Spring pollen is back – and it’s in full force. As reported by CNN, ABC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – and quite possibly, that thick layer of yellow powder on your car – this year’s spring pollen is apparently going to be worse than ever. (Let’s all let out a collective groan.) According to countless reports, we can expect higher than normal pollen counts in many parts of the country.

For instance, if you live in the Northeast, you can expect heavier pollen levels as a result of the area’s high population as well as the large number of pollen-producing plants in the region. The Midwest will also likely see a more severe allergy season, stemming from the late winter flooding and snowstorms, which have made the ground ripe for tree and grass growth. In the Southeast, there are conflicting predictions. While some numbers predict a less severe allergy season, allergists at the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic, say residents in the region should hunker down for a particularly tough season, based on recent pollen trends and weather patterns. Read more about the spring pollen forecast

It’s Official: Clean Air Helps Us Live Longer

Posted by Ashley on January 23rd, 2009

Cleaner, pollutant-free air adds almost 5 months to our lives. So say the results of an interesting study published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. The study, headed by an epidemiologist at Brigham Young University (BYU), tracked the correlation between particulate pollution levels and life expectancy over 2 decades in 51 U.S. cities. Researchers say it’s the first to illustrate that reducing air pollution can translate into a longer lifespan. How’s that for a reason to make an air purifier a permanent part of your environment? Read more about how cleaner air can help you live longer

Blueair Air Purifiers: Marrying Functionality and Style

Posted by Ashley on January 9th, 2009

There’s just something about an air purifier and home décor that often doesn’t mix.

My mom, an avid decorator, has been navigating this issue for years now, ever since my dad began using an air cleaner in their bedroom to help control his asthma symptoms at night. On my visits home, I’d notice that the air purifier was never in plain sight in their traditionally decorated bedroom. Sometimes it was covered with a pretty piece of linen and made into a makeshift table until it needed to be turned on. Other times, it was conveniently stored behind an armoire or put back in the box and pushed into the closet by day. Anything to get that ugly piece of machinery out of sight!

What’s my point? No matter what your decorating style is, a big bulky air purifier in a less-than-desirable hue can quickly put a damper on any room’s décor.

Taking note of this problem, the folks at Blueair offer a nice switch for those of you who, like my mom, want to maintain your beautiful room décor while reaping the health benefits of a powerful air purifier. Aside from delivering effective allergen and particle filtration, models in the award-winning Blueair air purifier series feature streamlined designs that are meant to blend in with almost any décor and cut down on those “Gosh, that thing is ugly!” reactions. Read more about Blueair air purifiers

An Air Purifier That’s Earth-Conscious

Posted by Ashley on December 23rd, 2008

Let’s see. Reusable shopping bags? Check. Compact fluorescent light bulbs? Got ‘em. Compost bin? Yup. Low-flow showerhead? Check. Hybrid car? I’m working on it. An environmentally friendly air purifier? Wait, is that even available? It is now.

The Alen Paralda HEPA Air Purifier is the first and only certified green air cleaner available in the U.S. Taking its name from the ancient elemental king of air, the Paralda helps you stay healthy by filtering out almost 100% of harmful allergens and particles using a HEPA filter. At the same time, the Energy Star-qualified unit helps you reduce your carbon footprint and save money on monthly power bills by using less energy than a standard 60-watt light bulb. Read more about the Alen Paralda air purifier

It’s Flu Season – Do You Know Where the Flu is?

Posted by Ashley on November 25th, 2008

If you’re anything like me, you hate flu season. You loathe those times – mostly between November and March – when you can just feel the influenza coming on. During these times, everything you do is performed in a fatigued slow motion. You start popping a daily vitamin C, a powdery-tasting Zicam tablet, and maybe one of those ugly green Echinacea capsules just to be safe. You wash your hands twice as much as you usually do (and for me, that’s a lot!). You get plenty of rest (out like a light at 10!) and hope that this run-down feeling passes. To put it plainly, if you’re anything like me, you’ll do everything short of declaring yourself under quarantine during flu season to prevent catching the flu.
Read more about flu prevention

Air Purifiers Help in Clean-Up from Wildfires

Posted by Ashley on November 19th, 2008

As I write this, areas in southern California are starting to recover from a string of dangerous wildfires that first sparked last Thursday and have burned at least 42,000 acres to date. These 3 fires – the Montecito Tea Fire, the Sayre Fire, and the Freeway Complex Fire – spawned thousands of evacuations and mobilized handfuls of fire crews to help contain their violent flames. They are now at least 70% contained (the Montecito Tea Fire is 100% contained), but not without destroying at least 400 houses, 500 mobile homes, scores of commercial properties, and causing at least 10 injuries.

As residents begin trickling back to their neighborhoods and homes – for some, to what is left of their homes – clean-up is top of mind. One important aspect of recovering from a wildfire, or any type of fire, is restoring the quality of the air, both outside and inside the home or office. An air purifier designed to remove smoke can expedite this process. Read more about air purifiers and smoke removal

Is Your Office Literally Making You Sick?

Posted by john on November 6th, 2008

Forbes reports that your office may be making you sick – literally. From poor indoor air quality to unhealthy lighting, workspace woes can lead to chronic illness, stress, and depression. Read more about environmental illnesses at work

Alen Air Purifier Reviews

Posted by john on November 2nd, 2008

*** Best Value Air Purifier ***

Alen air cleanersThe Alen A350 air cleaner has been flying off the shelves since it won the Best Value award from ConsumerSearch. Ranking behind only the IQAir HealthPro in performance, the Alen A350 “removes nearly as many allergens from the air” and is “also a little quieter” than the HealthPro; both air purifiers feature true HEPA filtration plus carbon filters for odors and chemicals. While ConsumerSearch says that the HealthPro is the best air purifier you can buy, “the Alen A350 air purifier comes close for a lot less.” Read more about Alen Air Purifiers

Teenager’s Research Exposes Harmful Air Cleaners

Posted by john on October 18th, 2008

At just 14 years of age, Otana Jakpor of Riverside, CA has already received a scientific award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after showing that ozone-producing air cleaners actually harm the lungs. Read more about ozone and air cleaners

Avoid VOCs to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Posted by john on October 18th, 2008

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be found throughout a typical home – in carpet, paints, furniture, and plastics; the problem with these chemicals is that they off-gas into the air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks, and some VOCs cause asthma and cancer. Read more about VOCs and air quality.

Chemical Leak Forms Toxic Cloud Over Pennsylvania

Posted by john on October 11th, 2008

BREAKING NEWSCNN reports that a toxic chemical cloud has formed over Petrolia, PA, after a chemical leak in a local plant.

The toxic cloud affected at least 2,000 residents, many of whom fled their homes to stay with friends and relatives or in shelters. Others decided to stay home and keep their windows and doors closed. Read more about toxic chemical clouds

Air Purifiers Reduce Need for Asthma Medication

Posted by john on October 8th, 2008

BBC reports that a new British study is putting air purifiers to the test. Air cleaners will be placed in the bedrooms of over 70 children to see if their asthma improves.

So far, preliminary results from 28 children show that air purifiers in bedrooms do indeed reduce the need for asthma medication.

“They also reported they were able to do sport better and sleep better, which was really good,” said research nurse Heather Hanna. Read more about air purifiers and asthma

Support Breast Cancer Research

Posted by john on October 6th, 2008

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we’re proud to offer two great deals in conjunction with the opportunity to support breast cancer research this month.

Blueair Pink AirPodsOrder a Blueair Pink AirPod air cleaner for the special price of $69.00, and $5.00 from the sale will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. These portable, efficient air cleaners make great gifts, and they’re the perfect size for offices, dorm rooms, and other small spaces.

Rabbit Air BCRF air purifiersAdditionally, 12% of each sale of the Rabbit Air BioGS BCRF special edition air purifier will benefit breast cancer research. Rabbit Air’s three-stage filtration eliminates allergens and germs plus dangerous chemicals.

breast cancer researchPurchase one of these air cleaners this month, and you’ll be supporting a noble cause while creating a healthier environment.

Blueair E Series Air Purifiers

Posted by john on October 5th, 2008

Blueair air cleanersBlueair has expanded its line of E series air purifiers to introduce some of the most sophisticated machines on the market.

Blueair e-series air cleaners feature a digital display that actually shows you the level of pollution in the air (thanks to built-in particle counters)! The intelligent air purifiers also come with remote controls for your convenience.

Blueair air purifiersAll Blueair E series air purifiers are also Energy Star rated. Read more about the Blueair E air purifier