Miami Moving GREEN and Asbestos Free

Contributing Article by Joe Lederman of Asbestos.com

This remains a sensitive topic and contributes greatly to the air quality in any home!


The path to purchasing a home is one of many great experiences for you and your family. Quite frankly, it is the investment of a life time. It is also one that will bring additional responsibilities into your life. Many repairs or renovations may need to be performed on older homes, especially in locations that are susceptible to natural disasters.

Although Florida does not contain naturally occurring asbestos, the substance still made its way to a large portion of the state. Home to Kennedy Space Center and many shipyards such as the Port of Miami, asbestos was a major form of insulation and piping because of his heat, sound and flame resistant qualities.

Potential homebuyers, those remodeling or working on older homes should be aware that homes built before 1980 may still contain asbestos. This is not to make you frightened as asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Citizens of Miami are motivated and pushing for continued advocating of new green sustainable building technologies. With the green paradigm more than underway, there are many healthy alternatives that make the use of asbestos obsolete.

If any asbestos is suspected in the home or workplace, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed until a home inspector can determine the best course of action. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause a rare, but severe ailment known as peritoneal mesothelioma. The amount of asbestos incidents has lead to much controversy involving manufacturers and corporations, who covered up evidence of its toxic qualities for financial gain. Mesothelioma lawyer firms around the country now advocate for victim rights.
The negligence involved with asbestos has become one of the more extensive cover-ups by manufacturers in the 20th century.

If any asbestos is suspected in the home, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed until a home inspector can determine the best course of action. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air. However, if removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous substances. The Florida Department of Air Resource Management administers an asbestos removal program in order to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibers in places of work, public facilities and homes.
Construction practices are upgrading methods to suit better lighting, heating, cooling systems and environmentally habitable insulation. Green options such as cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene should be given consideration as replacements to asbestos. According to recent studies, the use of cotton fiber foam has been shown to reduce annual energy costs by 25 percent. The United States Green Building Council reported a savings of $50 to $65 for green constructed buildings.

Village Green Man