electricity

Part 7 of our 15-part Q&A series on all aspects of green building from the publishers of HealthyHouseInstitute.com. Click here for the introductory post and furthur details.

Question: What are electromagnetic fields?

Answer: Electromagnetic fields, or EMFs for short, are invisible areas of energy. There are actually many different kinds. EMFs can be found around gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared radiation, and radio waves. However, the kind most people are concerned about are the EMFs surrounding electrical wiring and appliances.

Anything that uses electricity will be surrounded with electromagnetic fields, of which there are two types—magnetic fields and electric fields. Just plugging something in will cause it have an electric field around it, but it must be operating (current must be flowing) to have a magnetic field.

Most researchers believe that electric fields are relatively benign, and that health effects are more likely to be related to magnetic fields. Magnetic fields are measured in units called milliGauss (mG), but there aren’t any well-established guidelines as to how much is too much. Still, it’s believed by most researchers that you should stay away from long-term exposures above 3 mG.

Question: Can electrical appliances and the wiring inside my walls make me sick?

Answer: In most cases, probably not—but there are certainly situations where you should be concerned. The most common health effect researchers are looking into is cancer, but the evidence is often conflicting. In electrical occupations (electricians, linemen, etc.), some forms of cancer are seen more often than in workers who aren’t routinely around high-strength fields. And, some studies have found leukemia more often in people who live near high-voltage power lines.

Power consumption has always been relatively invisible to us as consumers. We learn of our usage after the fact, and are usually barely aware of the shadowy figure who flits into the back yard once in a blue moon to read the meter. And because of this, our attempts to reduce consumption always smack a bit of faith healing--we trust that buying EnergyStar appliances and CFLs are bringing our useage down, but the evidence of our success is highly interpretive--we're never really sure which action has had the most impact on our habits. This is where the Watts Up? meter can help.

A device that allows you to "accurately and quickly determine the cost of everything you plug in," the Watt's Up unit comes in two flavors, the standard unit for around $100, and the deluxe $200+ model, which allows you to monitor your useage live, via wifi, from anywhere in the world. You can use the Watts Up to identify sources of power leakage, ferret out phantom loads, and to calculate the payback on energy saving appliances, and to experiment with which energy saving practices yeild the most savings for the least effort or sacrifice.

If you're building a home, Watt's Up? can be used during the installation of your electrical system, preventing waste based on miscalculations and design errors. Come to think of it, Kevin could have used one of these in Episode Nine, when he was troubleshooting his own electrical installation.

Thanks to the Alternative Consumer for the tip.

It's time to lighten up on Building Green. Join host Kevin Contreras for Episode Nine: Lighting, as he discovers how to light his home in ways that are healthy, energy-conscious, safe and absolutely gorgeous. Learn how to bring daylight into rooms where you never thought it possible, and how to wire your home for maximum energy efficiency while reducing electromagnetic radiation. Kevin uses a special meter to help determine the best placement for his rooftop solar panels, and even roasts a chicken in a solar oven.

If this information-packed episode flew by, don't worry, as our detailed Episode Guide has links to all the products, practices, experts and materials mentioned on the show, and we'll be updating our video page all week long with new clips.

If you're wondering when Building Green airs in your neighborhood, check out our handy Station Finder.