Air Date: 1-14-2011|Episode 192
Anthony (Tony) Worthan serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Air Quality Sciences. Worthan promises to address “green” as it relates to IAQ; a critical issue for IAQ Radio listeners including maintenance supervisors, disaster relief managers and indoor environmental professionals…
Full Description:
Anthony (Tony) Worthan serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Air Quality Sciences. Worthan promises to address “green” as it relates to IAQ; a critical issue for IAQ Radio listeners including maintenance supervisors, disaster relief managers and indoor environmental professionals. These individuals are faced with “green” confusion every day: why and how should green products be selected and used? Defining Green Products provides an opportunity to educate and empower these decision-makers to make better choices that impact indoor air quality (IAQ) and its effects on human health. With extensive experience in indoor air quality and pollutant emissions from furniture, construction materials and consumer products, Worthan’s knowledge of sick building syndrome and indoor pollutant sources brings a scientific understanding of why a “green” product must be a “healthy” product. He holds a master’s degree in Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health and a Management Development post-graduate degree from Harvard Business School.
Z-Man’s Blog:
Defining Green Products
Air Quality Science (AQS), a firm which has done pioneering work in quantifying chemical emission within the indoor environment has recently published a primer titled “Defining Green Products.” Today, Tony Worthan (President and COO of AQS) discussed the document and green products with IAQradio’s listening audience. I found the AQS document to be fair in covering both the benefits afforded by green products and the detrimental aspects of the trend.
According to our guest the roots of green products can be found in natural and organic food products. Green products became trendy and a reason for purchasing decisions in the late 1990s. Concern over climate change, the rising costs of fuel oil and desire to environmentally do the right thing has resulted in the dynamic growth of green products. Green also has had a big influence and effect on building products and construction. A growing number of 3rd party certifications exist for green products.
Nuggets mined from today’s show:
· There is no universal definition of the term green. We have “green clutter” (Tony’s term) a confused and disordered state or collection (my definition).
· A growing body of scientific research suggests that exposure to chemical emissions indoors results in adverse health effects.
· The term green is powerful and evocative it is also vague and may mean something different to everyone.
· 80% of our population is heavily influenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths.
· For most adults media is their only source of environmental information resulting in confusion and fosters the growth of persistent and inaccurate myths.
· 10% blindly trust green product claims.
I found the AQS document to be fair in covering both the benefits afforded by green products and the detrimental aspects of the trend.
The AQS report, Defining Green Products is a must read for IEPs and consumers alike.
Z-Man Signing Off
Today’s Music– “It’s Not easy Being Green”, Sesame Street
