• Pollen.com: This comprehensive site dedicated to delivering vital pollen information to allergy- and asthma-sufferers offers two apps to help you plan up to four days in advance for potential allergy and asthma triggers. Pollen Mobile provides a 4-Day Pollen.com Forecast, a 30-Day Pollen.com History, and an Express Weather forecast for up to three days based on a city or zip code. This site also offers the Allergy Alert app for iPhone and iTouch users. This app provides index levels for allergy, asthma, cold and cough, and ultraviolet sensitivity for up to four days based on a city or zip code.
• Accuweather.com:This great source for weather forecasts and weather-related information offers a super handy app for iPhone. WeatherMD gives up-to-the-minute forecasts for weather conditions that might impact asthma, allergies, arthritis, migraines, sinus problems, and more.
• Weather.com:The go-to Web site for all things weather now offers a mobile version of their site. Weather Channel Mobile Web provides current and extended 10-day forecasts, weather trivia, severe weather updates, radar and satellite maps, and yes, a pollen counter.

While these apps can’t eliminate allergy and asthma symptoms, they can make traveling and even daily planning for allergy and asthma triggers a little easier.

If you know that your travels will take you somewhere that the weather may aggravate your allergy or asthma symptoms, check out some of our portable air purifiers like the Airfree Onix Air Purifier and the Germ Guardian Pluggable UV-C Air Sanitizer. Both of these units weigh less than 3.5 pounds and can fit neatly inside any suitcase for easy travel.

Check out this video that the EnergySavvy.com team created about Obama’s proposed HOMESTAR program. I have to agree with the President, insulation is sexy, and it can help you improve indoor air quality.

Cats, dogs, ferrets, birds, and other animals can be allergic to many of the same things that humans are, such as dust, dust mites, pollen, mold, and certain foods. Other significant allergy triggers for pets are fleas and flea saliva.

Just like you or any other member of the family, your pet’s allergy symptoms can be eliminated, or at least minimized, by reducing their exposure to the triggering allergen(s). In the case of food allergies, you can usually just switch to a food that doesn’t include the allergen. However, controlling allergies to airborne irritants like pollen, mold, dust, dust mites, and fleas requires a bit more diligence and attention to indoor air quality. Luckily, Sylvane offers multiple solutions to make your home comfortable not only for your pet, but the entire family.

Air purifiers, also known as air sanitizers, can significantly improve the air in any room where a unit is placed. An air purifier draws your room air into the unit and passes it through a series of filters to capture dust, pollen, mold, and other impurities. Then, the air purifier disperses the clean, allergen-free air back into to your environment.

There are many allergy-relief air purifiers available, which offer stronger air filtration systems than conventional air purifiers. For example, the IQAir HealthPro Plus, features a two-stage gas phase filter to remove gaseous toxins and odors, while HyperHEPA technology removes up to 99% of airborne particles from the air. This is stronger than ordinary HEPA filtration, which still removes an impressive 99.97% of particles.

So what about allergens lurking on the floor? We’ve got that covered as well. Vapor steam cleaners are a great way to clean and sanitize hard surfaces like sealed hardwoods, countertops, bathroom tile, and tubs without using harsh chemicals that can harm your pet and your indoor air. You can also use home steam cleaners to spot clean and sanitize soiled fabrics and carpets.

Vapor steam cleaners work by transforming ordinary tap into powerful steam, which penetrates surfaces to safely eliminate and remove stains, dirt, germs, viruses, bacteria – and yes, fleas, flea eggs, and flea larvae. Lightweight (just 8 pounds!) and easy to maneuver, the Reliable Steamboy T1 Steam Floor Mop is great low-cost option. It converts water to steam in just 20 seconds and provides superior cleaning power without leaving behind unwanted moisture or residue.

If you suspect that your pet is allergic to something, consult your veterinarian to pinpoint the exact cause.

To learn more about living with allergies or to find FAQs and buying guides for air purifiers and vapor steam cleaners, visit our Learning Center.

This week, we’ve added a few new Learning Center articles that answer these questions and more.

A new wave of air purifiers has recently hit the market — capable of eliminating airborne irritants plus illness-causing germs! Our article Germicidal Air Purifiers May Boost Your Health discusses the following three technologies used in air purifiers to eliminate airborne pathogens from your space: ultraviolet light, natural silver, and sterilizing heat. These germicidal air purifiers are able to destroy germs that can cause influenza, colds, strep throat, staph infections, and even tuberculosis, while also removing allergy and asthma irritants from your indoor environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Air Purifiers sheds light on some of the most common questions about air purifiers. From air purifier basics, such as identifying an air pollution problem in your home to calculating CFM (cubic feet per minute), this article provides answers to important questions that will help you choose the right air purifier to keep your home healthy and comfortable.

Visit our Learning Center to read these articles and discover additional resources like product buying guides or tips for living with allergies and asthma.

Vacuums were compared and ranked among similar models based on price, weight, replacement bag costs, and overall score. The ratings also figured in test results based on carpet cleaning, bare floor cleaning, total airflow, noise, emissions, handling, and pet hair removal.

The Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 and the Eureka Comfort Clean Oh! 4235 both received the distinction of CR Best Buy for offering “the best blend of performance and price.”

Available in radiant red and sunflower yellow, the Boss 4870 is a powerful upright vacuum and great choice for pet owners or allergy-sufferers, as well as those who demand spotless floors. This allergy vacuum features a sealed HEPA filtration system, which captures up to 99.97% of particles including dust, pet dander, pollen, dust mite feces, and other common allergens. Plus, a sealed filtration system ensures that dirty air cannot escape the filter and return to your environment.

Another great feature of the Boss 4870 is the motorized brushroll. The powerful on/off brushroll received an excellent rating in Consumer Reports tests for removing pet hair. The deluxe bare floor brushes were also rated excellent. Effortlessly removing dust and debris, Eureka designed these brushes to clean and protect sealed hardwoods as well as tile.

Also rated a CR Best Buy, the Eureka Comfort Clean Oh! is a great solution for anyone wanting an effective bagless vacuum at a great price. Priced at around $140, the Comfort Clean Oh! features Whirlwind Cyclonic technology to maintain suction power longer, a telescopic wand, and a 25-foot power cord with automatic cord rewind. This HEPA vacuum also comes with a flip-bottom dust cup to make clean-up even simpler. When the canister is full, just press a button and the bottom of the canister opens to release the dirt and debris.

Of the canister vacuums tested, the Electrolux EL7020B Oxygen 3 Ultra Vacuum Cleaner was ranked among the top five, receiving excellent ratings for both bare floor cleaning and emissions. This allergy-friendly canister vacuum comes with an effective HEPA filter as well as Electrolux MicroSeal Fresh technology, which traps dust and allergens inside the vacuum — and away from your home. The Oxygen 3 also comes equipped with the popular Quiet Clean powerhead to reduce noise and Optimum Sensor technology, which monitors your vacuum’s performance to ensure peak efficiency.

To learn more about vacuums and what to look for when purchasing, check out our article 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Vacuum Cleaner.

Pick 5 encourages people to commit to five actions that promote conservation of the environment. The EPA provides a list of ten actions to help you choose your five. These actions range from using less water to eCycling. If after scanning the list, you’re still feeling stumped, Sylvane can help. Here are a few suggestions that help conserve the outdoor environment by treating problems in your indoor environment.

Save Electricity

The EPA suggests conducting a home energy audit, installing programmable thermostats, turning appliances and electronics off when you aren’t using them, and changing your light bulbs to compact fluorescents. The EPA also recommends purchasing products that are Energy-Star qualified. Energy Star products have been deemed by the EPA as being high energy-saving, cost-effective appliances that don’t consume excess energy or pollute the environment.

The Danby DDR7009REE is an Energy Star dehumidifier that keeps humidity at the perfect level for your home using non-ozone depleting R-410A refrigerant, which is eco-friendly and energy efficient. Plus, the packaging that this dehumidifier is shipped in is made from recycled materials.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycling is always a great choice for helping the environment. Some of the options that the EPA offers are purchasing products with less packaging, taking reusable shopping bags to stores, creatively reusing other products, and recycling unwanted goods.

Another option is to purchase products made from recycled materials, and long gone are the days when this just referred to paper! You can buy a variety of products made from recycled material — even appliances. For example, the Electrolux EL6984A Ultra Silencer Green Vacuum Cleaner is quickly becoming known as the greenest vacuum on the market. This canister vacuum is constructed using 55% recycled plastic materials, and it is packaged in 80% recycled, unbleached cardboard. Not to mention that 90% of the vacuum is recyclable at the end of its useful life.

Test Your Home for Radon

Radon is a highly toxic odorless, colorless gas that can be found in any home. The U.S. Surgeon General recently named it the second leading cause of lung cancer. The EPA recommends corrective action be taken if long-term radon levels in your home exceed 4 PCi/L.

To protect you and your family, use a radon gas detector, such as the Safety Siren Pro Series 3, to monitor radon levels in your home. Meeting the EPA’s radon testing criteria, this digital radon detector continually monitors and records radon levels in your home. Should levels exceed 4 PCi/L, the detector will chirp until a safe level is resumed.

To see the complete Pick 5 list and make your commitment, visit www.epa.gov/pick5.

Cockroach allergens are found in the feces, saliva, and body parts of the insects. They cause allergy symptoms, such as irritated skin, itchy eyes and nose, scratchy throat, and can exacerbate asthma conditions. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, there is a correlation between exposure to cockroach allergens and the development of asthma in children.

While cockroach species can be found around the world, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that urban and southern homes are the most at risk for cockroach infestations. In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that 78 to 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches — with as many as 900 to 330,000 cockroaches per home!

So what can you do to keep your home and family safe from the effects of cockroach allergens? Since cockroaches can be difficult to get rid of, if there is a known infestation, contact a professional exterminator for proper eradication of the pests. There are also steps that you can take everyday to ensure that cockroaches don’t invade your home.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggests using the exclusion and sanitation approach to cockroach prevention. Elimination involves preventing cockroaches from entering your home. From cracks to drain traps to groceries, cockroaches can find a way into your home in the oddest of places. Use these tips to secure them:

• Screen windows and close doors
• Caulk cracks and gaps
• Run water periodically in spare bathrooms
• Place fiberglass window screens over roof vent pipes
• Scan grocery items before storing them
• Inspect children’s backpacks and lunchboxes
• Seal gaps around plumbing, wall outlets, and switch plates (condo- and apartment-dwellers)

Sanitation involves eliminating food sources, moisture sources, and harborage sources for the insects. Without food, water, and warm dark places to hide, cockroaches are less likely to take up residence in your home.

Many people also use chemicals to prevent and treat cockroach infestations. But for allergy- and asthma-sufferers these chemicals can be as harmful as the cockroaches. As a chemical-free line of defense for protecting your home, consider using a powerful vacuum cleaner and vapor steam cleaner combination to keep your indoor environment clean and free of unwanted pests.

Unlike cat dander allergens, which are small and can float in the air for hours, cockroach allergens are large and quickly settle on surfaces and in carpet. For maximum disinfection and deep cleaning of hard surfaces, use a vapor steam cleaner such as the Reliable Enviromate E3. Transforming ordinary tap water into powerful, sanitizing steam, the Enviromate E3 (and similar units) effectively kill germs and eliminate dirt and debris from hard surfaces such as kitchen counters, floors, and bathrooms.

For homes with carpet, a high-quality deep cleaner vacuum like the Bissell ProHeat 2X CleanShot will further protect your family. This deep cleaner uses hot water and heavy-duty brushes to remove dirt and debris lingering deep inside your carpet, rugs, and upholstery.

These simple suggestions will help you breathe easier and avoid the allergic effects of cockroaches.

According to an article by the Northern States Conservation Center that addresses temperature and relative humidity levels for museum objects, “there is no single relative humidity range that is ideal for all museum objects.” However, NSCC does recommend maintaining a non-fluctuating relative humidity (RH) above 25% and below 65% for mixed collections — noting that many museums maintain an RH of 45%.

Keeping a consistent relative humidity is crucial, as an RH below 25% “can cause embrittlement of hygroscopic materials such as leather and paper,” and an RH above 25% can lead to mold growth and metal corrosion.

For many museums, art galleries, and other collecting institutions, humidity control has involved expensive HVAC systems. However, these systems aren’t always the best solution for multiple reasons including budgetary and environmental concerns.

According to an article by Carol Kino at NYTimes.com, many art conservators are considering alternate methods for maintaining various collections. For example, Kino points out that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has made a commitment to use more microclimate cases. These are vitrines “that keep groups of similar objects at their own specific humidity levels, so that the air in the rest of the room does not have to be conditioned so stringently.”

Another effective solution involves the use of a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers come in a variety of humidification capacities — from industrial-grade units, such as the Hi-E Dry 195 Dehumidifier, which can be ducted to dehumidify multiple areas, to compact, portable units, such as the Santa Fe Compact Dehumidifier, which are designed to maintain RH levels in smaller spaces.

The Hi-E Dry 195 is a commercial dehumidifier that is capable of handling heavy-duty humidity problems as well as common ones in large spaces. The unit removes 183 pints of moisture per day under AHAM conditions and 366 pints per day at saturation, using just 12 amps of electricity. Plus, it operates effectively in temperatures as low as 33 degrees Fahrenheit.

One of the best features of this high-efficiency dehumidifier is its versatility. The HI-E Dry 195 can be used as a stand-alone unit or ducted. If aesthetic appeal is not an issue for a collection, the 195 operates like any plug-and-go product, with no assembly required. However, if you want to hide the dehumidifier, save valuable floor space, or even dehumidify multiple areas, this Hi-E Dry dehumidifier offers several ducting options.

If you have a smaller collection or just need a smaller unit, the Santa Fe Compact is another great option. Originally designed to combat humidity and mold problems in tight crawl spaces, this tiny unit, which measures less than two feet wide and only a foot high, removes up to 65 pints of moisture from your environment each day under AHAM conditions and up to 130 pints at saturation. Thanks to an Energy Star rating and the environmentally-friendly R-410A refrigerant, this dehumidifier also helps save energy and protect the environment.

If ducting is an option, the Santa Fe Compact’s innovative design also allows multiple configurations. You can configure this compact dehumidifier to remove moist air from one area and deliver dry air into another.

To learn more about dehumidifiers and relative humidity, check out our article Understanding Relative Humidity and browse our complete collection of dehumidifiers.

The National Candle Association reports that U.S. retail sales of candles are estimated at approximately $2 billion annually. With candle sales and usage growing, it’s no wonder that consumers and indoor air quality experts have started studying the effects of burning candles.

Research projects conducted at South Carolina State University, the University of South Florida, and the Environmental Protection Agency have all found evidence that burning candles releases toxins such as benzene, toluene, acetone, carbon disulfide, and candle soot into the environment.

Paraffin wax candles are particularly harmful to respiratory health, releasing significantly more toxic chemicals and soot as they burn. These candles, created using the final residue that results from refining crude oil, are the most popular type of scented candles in the U.S.

According to R. Massoudi, Ph.D., and Amid Hamidi, Ph.D., both of South Carolina State University, candles made from beeswax or soy are safer alternatives because they do not release harmful chemicals or candle soot. However, George Thurston, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental science at the New York University School of Medicine, urges people to be prudent when lighting any kind of candle in an enclosed space. Burning any candle in a small area, such as a bathroom, without proper ventilation is risky, especially for people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory health issues.

While you could ban candles from your home permanently, this would probably be a hard decision — especially on those days when you want to fill your home with smell of soothing lavender or warm cinnamon.

One solution to help you happily coexist with candles is to purify your indoor air with an air purifier. The Alen T300 Tower Air Purifier uses a 3-in-1 combination filter with a true HEPA filter to remove 99.97% of airborne particles, including pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, dust mites, as well as smoke and soot. T300 and similar units are perfect to combat the effects of occasional candle burning, along with other airborne contaminants.

If you frequently burn candles, a specialized unit such as the Allerair 5000 MCS Air Purifier, is a great solution for combating airborne chemicals. The Allerair 5000 MCS features a four-stage filtration system that includes a true HEPA filter and 15 pounds of chemical-absorbing activated carbon. This system filters out traces of chemical cleaners, solvents, mild toxins, paint fumes, cigarette smoke, plastics, furniture glue, and – you guessed it – chemicals produced during candle-burning.

Using an air purifier not only allows you to continue enjoying candles in your home, it also improves your overall indoor environment.

Electric fireplaces, like those manufactured by Southern Enterprises, are quickly becoming safer, low-hassle alternatives to built-in fireplaces. With traditional fireplaces, you have to consider what type of fireplace and features you want, where it will fit in your home, who will install it (Will you install it yourself or hire contractors?)—plus, you may need a building permit, which could take weeks to get!

Electric fireplaces don’t require extensive planning or any construction at all. Just remove it from the package, plug it into an electrical outlet, and turn it on. Voila! You’ve got a room filled with the rustic charm of a roaring fire. Since electric fireplaces are space heaters as well, they fill your room with the warmth of a fire more efficiently and without the hazards associated with wood-burning fireplaces.

Moreover, the use of electric light to create the flame means that there is no danger from stray ashes and no pollutants affecting your indoor air quality. The electric flame also keeps the fireplace cool to the touch, protecting children and pets.

Ultimately, the hardest part about purchasing an electric fireplace is choosing one. These heaters are available in a variety of designs, from contemporary to ornate to traditional. The Southern Enterprises Tennyson Electric Fireplace includes bookcases, which brings an air of distinction and additional storage to any room. You can add the antique quality of a stove heater to your room with the DeLonghi SFG1031 Solid-Steel Electric Stove Heater. With its controls hidden behind the front door, even antique aficionados will do a double take at this vintage-inspired unit.

Along with these designs, you can choose from multiple finishes, such as antique white, mahogany, oak, and black. With prices starting below $200, it’s easy to give any room in your house an instant facelift with the timeless look of a fireplace.

So this winter season, don’t just reminisce about great times spent by a fire; experience them again with an electric fireplace. Only this time, you don’t have to stoke it, clean it, or even worry about it. Just plug it in, nestle in your favorite spot, and enjoy the comfortable warmth emanating from your fireplace.

This first installment marks our jump into the world of online video. In the coming months, we’ll be bringing you lots more videos about some of our bestselling indoor air quality products. Be sure to visit the Sylvane YouTube Channel regularly to catch our new additions and to learn more about crafting a healthier indoor environment.

• On the west side of the city, a stretch of Interstate-20 was completely flooded with water – and schools of fish – after floodwaters of the nearby Sweetwater Creek overflowed onto each side of the highway.
• Clarkdale Elementary School in the northwestern Atlanta suburb of Austell became submerged as floodwaters reached the roof of the 46-year-old school.
• Scores of Atlanta city residents had to take boats into their neighborhoods to survey flood damage done to their homes.
• A total of nine people died after being swept away in rushing floodwaters.

Today, (thankfully) the water levels are receding, the sun is shining, and metro Atlanta is continuing to dry out. In the meantime, however, many residents who have lost their homes completely or experienced some degree of flood damage are at a loss for what to do next.

If you find yourself in these shoes, our article How To Handle A Flood can help point you in the right direction. In addition, here at Sylvane, we offer a complete selection of water damage restoration products that can help you clean up and restore your home or business safely following flood damage. From commercial dehumidifiers to air movers to mold-killing disinfectants, we can outfit you with the tools you need to get your space back in shape.

Feel free to call our product experts anytime at (800) 934-9194 if you have questions on our restoration products or need advice.

Window AC units are room air conditioners designed to cool areas in your home, office, or business evenly and comfortably. These self-contained appliances are most often installed inside standard double-hung windows, but some units can be configured to install through a wall if you don’t have a window available.

When compared to portable AC units, window air conditioners can be slightly more efficient, partly because their heat-generating exhaust systems sit outdoors as opposed to inside a room. They provide powerful and flexible cooling that is easy to control using a host of intuitive features.

To learn more about window ACs, read our new article 5 Things To Consider When Buying A Window Air Conditioner. Then, browse our new Energy Star-rated units including the Friedrich X-Star and Sunpentown models. Look for more units to be added to our offerings in the coming weeks.

Drip…drip…annoying drip.

Well guess what? The time you have to wait for that satisfying glass of agua has been drastically reduced with the Clear2O Original Water Pitcher. Nabbing a 2007 “Good Buy” award from Good Housekeeping magazine, the Clear2O water filter pitcher puts clean, contaminant-free water at your fingertips in a record time of 34 seconds.

To filter water 9 times faster than the competition, the Clear2O pitcher uses the pressure of your faucet instead of simple gravity to pass water through a purifying carbon block filter. All you have to do is attach the pitcher’s quick-connect hose to your faucet and turn on the tap. Pressurized water moves through the filter at record speed. When the pitcher is full, you’ll enjoy nine 8-oz. glasses of clean water before your next fill-up – that’s approximately 50% more than similar water filter pitchers.

Your water will be cleaner, too. Clear2O’s filter removes 5 times the amount of impurities as the leading brand’s pitcher. It also has an exceptionally long life. The Clear2O filter purifies 50 gallons or 800 8-oz. glasses of water over its lifetime. That means you could go months and months without replacing it.

I think one of the best benefits of this pitcher, however, boils down to the incredibly positive effect it has on the environment. Every year, bottled water produces about 1.5 million tons of plastic waste. It’s estimated that a mere 20 percent of these plastic water bottles actually make it to a recycling bin. The rest end up in landfills – where they will take 450 to 1,000 years to decompose – or in the ocean – where marine life often fatally mistake the bottles for food.

Drinking water from a Clear2O Original Water Pitcher not only helps you save time and money, it also helps save the planet we call home.

When running on their lowest fan speeds, these units emit sounds that are only slightly louder than a whisper. At 41 decibels and 43 decibels respectively, the CV-P12PX and CV-P13PX can be operated in your bedroom, office, or living room with virtually zero disruption. That’s a long way from many first-generation portable AC models that, when operating, you swear sound like a plane shooting down a runway.

Of course, whisper-quiet operation isn’t the only feature that makes our new Sharp portable air conditioners worthy of a detailed look. Along with automatic drainage, a variety of modes – including a dehumidifier-only mode – and multiple speeds, these new models incorporate Sharp’s proprietary Plasmacluster Ion Technology. This system works to clean your air of impurities and render it fresher and cleaner-smelling throughout the cooling process. Essentially, the Sharp CV-P12PX and CV-P13PX are air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and air filters all rolled into one.

Forecasters say it will be a hot summer. Why not get through it with one of these cutting-edge portable ACs from Sharp?