Making Clean Indoor Air A BudgetPriority (NAPSA)—In today’s economy, many consumersare scaling back on splurge purchases and budgeting instead on products that can help protect their family. Bottled water and hand sanitizer often remain at the top of the “musthave” shoppinglist for savvy consumers. But did you knowit’s also worth making a modest budget investment in cleaning your indoorair? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)says levels of indoor air pollution can be between two and five times higher than outdoor air. Poor indoor air quality can negatively impact many peo- ple’s health. In fact, some coldlike symptoms including sneezing, sore throats and runny noses can be triggered by indoorallergens. Microscopic particles that are invisible to the naked eye, such as dust, mold spores and pet dander, are commonly found in indoor air in homes, schools and offices and can potentially pose health concerns. Air purifiers are one proven method to improve poor indoor air quality. Effective air purifiers, like Honeywell air purifiers, eliminate up to 99 percent of airborne pollutants and allergens from the air passing throughtheirfilters. Some consumersbelieve portable air purifiers are too expensive to fit their budget. In reality, many air purifiers are extremely affordable to buy and operate, and the benefits justify the modest investment. Here are three simple tips on choosing an air purifier: 1. Choose products certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufactur- ers (AHAM). Look for Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) products certified by AHAM. The CADR rating tells you an air purifier has been independently tested and the results are certified by AHAM. Additionally, the CADR level, which will always be posted on the package, determines how effectively the product will perform in a particular room size. 2. Ensure safe ozone emission levels. The harmful effects of ozone, a component of smog, are well documented. Look for air purifiers that fall well within government guidelines for safe ozone emission levels. A listing of air purifiers that adhere to recommended limits can be found at AHAM’s Web site, www.CADR.org/consumer. 3. Energy efficiency and room size matter. Look for air purifiers certified for your room size. Some run on about the same amount of energy as a standard lightbulb, and some are even Energy Star rated. Honeywell portable air purifiers, marketed by Kaz, Inc., are available at most majorretailers. To learn more about how to choose an effective air purifier, visit www.honeywellcleanair.com.
