Housing and Environment
HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT
Your home is often your most valuable investment. Cornell Cooperative Extension through our housing programs can help you
• Identify environmental risks, concerns or problems in and around your home or apartment.
• Make simple changes in household practice to care for your home and its furnishings, prevent pollution and help reduce consumption of water, energy and other resources.
• Take preventive actions to safeguard your home health and the environment.
• Learn about new building technology, energy-wise products and housing improvements through the annual housing tour.
HOME*A*SYST
Home*A*Syst is a confidential self-assessment program you can use to evaluate your home and property for pollution and health risks. Home*A*Syst explains what risks to look for and describes safe practices for reducing and eliminating risks. Resources and selected topics included in Home*A*Syst include:
• Household Wastewater
• Storm Water Management
• Household Hazardous Products
• Lead In and Around the Home
• Indoor Air Quality
• Heating and Cooling Systems
• Managing Household Waste: Reusing, Recycling and
• Composting
Informational fact sheets:
RESTORING HEATING SYSTEMS AFTER A FLOOD
ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WATER HEATERS
HEALTHY HOMES FOR AMERICA
Most people spend a least half their lives inside their homes. Indoor air can be more harmful to your family’s health than outdoor air.
Mold & Mildew
Moisture control will help prevent mold and mildew problems in the home. Contact Jeanne Darling at 607-865-6531 or delaware@cornell.edu for information on cleaning up mold and mildew inside the home.
Biological Contaminants
Biological Contaminants are allergen triggers that can cause asthma. Pets, tobacco smoke, dust mites, cockroaches and insects can pollute the air and make asthma worse. Housing fact sheets on biological contaminants can help you control triggers with house cleaning tips.
Lead
Lead is a serious health risk for children and pregnant women. Learn to lower lead in your home by requesting information on lead.
Asbestos
Many products used to build and furnish your home can make indoor air unhealthy. Check out the healthy homes fact sheet on asbestos.
Cornell Cooperative Extension offers programs and resources to keep your home safe including several Fact Sheets listed below.
Mold Illust
Mold Text
Mold Cleanup After the Flood
Insects Illust
Asbestos Text
Asbestos Illust
Dust Mite Text
Dust Mites Illust
Lead Text
Lead Illust
Lead in Christmas Lights