Green Safe Solutions

 Green Safe Solutions provides a full range of services and environmentally friendly green solutions for residential, commercial and medical settings.  Our products are made from biodegradable and energy renewable resources.  All of our products are nonhazardous, nontoxic and laboratory certified for effectiveness.  All Green Safe products are EPA compliant.  Green Safe Solutions services include IAQ mold and air quality asseessments, mold remediation, building damage assessments, lab testing and analysis by a third party certified laboratory, demolition, construction, air duct cleaning, crawlspace air sealing and Cleanseal Sanitizing treatment.  GreenSafe Solutions is committed to conserving and preserving the natural elements of our environment.  Our mission is to produce green products and services that provide the highest standards of effectiveness for healthy indoor environments.  Customer satisfaction is our highest priority in implementing Green Safe Solutions.Green Safe Solutions provides services and products to protect your home and family from the health hazards of indoor air.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indoor air quality is a greater health risk than outdoor air due to  mold exposure and other  pollutants in our indoor air environment. We are exposed to a higher levels of health issues due to  spending more time indoors,  which is increasing our  exposure to mold and other air pollutants.

Indoor Air Quality

Toxic mold  releases spores and particles into the air and are the primary cause of poor air quality in homes. These spores can quickly build up inside homes to levels that are much higher than those typically found outdoors due to inadequate ventilation and lack of air purification methods. Due to better home construction and energy efficiency, today’s homes are kept tightly closed up for most of the year. In addition, most homes do not have air purification methods, so fresh air is prevented from being circulated in the house to dilute emissions from indoor pollutant sources, or from being exhausted to the outdoors. Buildings lacking proper amounts of fresh air usually contain airborne contaminants at levels that can cause adverse health effects. The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that the risk of respiratory infection is 45% higher among occupants of energy efficient buildings.

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MOLD GROWTH INDOORS High moisture is the major contributor to indoor microbial activity. This is due to nutrients for spore germination and growth being readily available in most household constituents. These household constituents can include dirt, dust, wood, paper, adhesives, acoustical fiber, paint, textiles, stored material, carpets, floors and much more. The actual germination of fungal spores and mold growth is influenced by several factors. These factors are as follows: amount of time material remains wet, water source contamination, substrate, light, temperature, air velocity, nutrients, humidity and moisture.

Time remaining wet: The longer the materials stay wet the higher probability of microbial growth. It takes 2-3 days for micro-organisms to start growing in a Petri dish.

Water source contamination: The greater the water sources the greater the microbial growth activity. These may include loose toilets, pipe condensation, pipe leaks and foundation leaks.

Substrate: Fungi prefer nature materials. Some fungi will grow on almost everything.

Light: Most molds thrive in dark places. Closets, attics, inside walls, behind wallpaper, behind refrigerators in attics and in basement corners.

Temperature: Temperatures between 68F and 86F are the optimal temperatures for microbial growth activity.

Air Velocity: Microbial activity is preferred in stagnant areas. This is why you molds, is often present in closets, attics, and inside walls.

Nutrients: Organic material such as drywall, wood, ceilings, adhesives, paper, plaster, leather, cloth, etc are ideal for microbial growth. Homes where cleanliness is not maintained have more microbial growth.

Humidity: Anything above 50%, RH (relative humidity) is desirable for mold growth.

Moisture: When substrates are wet or damp the opportunity for microbial activity is great. Moisture content of 18 % or greater can cause mold growth.

Drywall nail pops or rusted drywall nails may be the cause of high indoor humidity. Past or present water leaks may also cause mold to grow on exposed or unexposed surfaces. These types of conditions should be controlled. Many times owners patch and paint past ceiling or wall leaks. At these locations, we cannot tell if future seepage is expected, unless, it is actually wet or leaking at the time of inspection. Green Safe Solutions advises the owner to monitor these areas and make necessary repairs where needed. Mold is often found in walls behind drywall, linoleum flooring or behind wallpaper. These coverings can encapsulate mold spores until the area is opened up.  

Green Safe Solutions also works in partnership with its sister company Precision Mold Testing for detection of mold problems. More information about Precision Mold Testing can be found at Precisionmoldtesting.org.