Located on the South Central part of the United States, Texas is known for its growing population, cultural diversity, landscapes and a rich history. In the world of real estate and home ownership, there can be a large amount of items on the agenda. Having the assistance of an honest and experienced Austin real estate agent can make this process easy and stress free.
Although Texas has many stretches of rural areas, it also has a number of large cities where asbestos problems has been concentrated. Asbestos was used in many building applications throughout the 20th century. Many industries craved its use because of its flame resistant, durable and versatile qualities.
Many homes in Texas have had asbestos used in popcorn ceilings, walls and asbestos siding. Potential home buyers or those seeking to remodel or foreclose homes should be aware that homes built prior to 1980 maintain the potential of containing asbestos. However, this should not make you jump out of your seat because exposure is easily avoidable by taking simple precautions.
Asbestos Tips
If you locate any suspected asbestos, most experts advise to leave it alone. In most cases, the best action is no action in regards to asbestos. However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained and licensed to deal with hazardous materials.
Consistent and frequent exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of serious health ailments such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, forms of asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult task for physicians due to a variety of reasons. These include: many mesothelioma symptoms mimic less serious conditions, length of latency period, age of exposure and cigarette smoking.
The Texas Department of Health Services helps protect and promote the physical and environmental well being of citizens in Texas from asbestos. With a new outreach program, they are currently educating the public in finding the right asbestos abatement contractors to inspect and remove the hazardous material from homes, public facilities and workplaces.
GREEN Building: Save money, better for your health
If asbestos is removed, green Eco-friendly options should be considered as replacements. These options include the use of cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene foam. These recycled building materials can decrease annual energy costs up to 25 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling counts for 50 to 70 percent of energy used in the average home.
Cotton fiber is made from recycled batted material and treated to be flame resistant. With the implementation of these recycled materials, waste is also decreasing in landfills. These options will provide a safe and healthy home, free of any damaging materials.
Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using Eco-sustainable methods.
Implementing Eco-friendly methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: Conservation of natural resources, enhance air quality, protect Eco systems, energy sustainability, increase property value, improve quality of life, improvement of pulmonary and cardiac health, Reduction of waste.
