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Breath Easy
 Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. These three strategies from the Environmental Protection Agency will help improve air quality in your home.
Source control. The most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. For example, areas that contain asbestos can be sealed off or enclosed, and gas
stoves can be adjusted to decrease their emissions.
Improved ventilation. Heating and cooling systems don’t usually bring fresh air into your home. To increase the amount of outdoor air that comes inside, open windows and doors, operate window or attic fans when the weather permits, or run a window air conditioner with the vent control open. And save pollutant-emitting activities like painting, sanding, soldering or welding for outside.
Air cleaners. There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, from relatively inexpensive tabletop models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others are much less so. In general, air cleaners are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
For a simpler solution, try a plant. Although it has not been scientifically proven, there is some evidence that household plants can help remove significant quantities of pollutants from the air in your home. But be
careful: over watering plants can be detrimental to your home’s air quality — damp soil can promote the growth of microorganisms.
 DID
YOU KNOW?
A projected 47.8 million U.S. households will fail to respond to the census by mail and will require a census taker to follow up in person to count the household.
Source: U.S. Census
Bureau
HOME-GROWN HERBS
 Cultivating your own herb garden is an easy and cost-effective way to have access to fresh herbs without a trip to the grocery store. Basil, parsley, chives, mint and sage are easy to grow and maintain.
Gardening experts at HGTV say the least expensive method is to start new plants from seeds, as opposed to transplanting store-bought or garden-grown herb plants.
First, fill a peat pot with a soilless potting mix, a mixture of peat moss, pine bark, sand and other organic materials. Place this pot in a small bowl filled with water. After the water has completely saturated the peat pot, bury seeds at the depth of three to four times their diameter; for small seeds, simply press them into the mixture with your finger. To ensure growth, place a few seeds in each pot. Finally, put a plastic bag over the pot, to simulate a greenhouse, and place it in a dry sunny spot.
After the seeds have germinated you can transplant them into a larger pot. Keep your herbs moist but not wet, and pinch or prune them as necessary.
 fast fact >> >> >> >> >>
Households spent an estimated $45 billion on their pets in 2009.
Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
UNDER LOCK AND KEY
 While many homeowners say home security is a priority, they may not be taking the necessary precautions with their keys and locks. A recent survey by Kwikset, which manufactures locks and hardware for residential homes, finds that 47 percent of homeowners did not
change or re-key their locks when they first moved in to their home, and nearly one-third have never changed or re-keyed their locks. More than half of homeowners surveyed also say they routinely loan house keys to friends or
contractors, increasing the chance that the keys could fall into the wrong hands and be copied.
Home security experts at American Lock and Key offer several tips to help you secure access to your home.
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Don’t hide keys in obvious places, such as under an exterior floor mat or a planter. Most burglars know the most common places to hide keys. If you must hide them, keep keys stored in a secured key box.
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Keep keys separate from your address, so if they are ever lost or stolen, no one can identify where they belong.
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Immediately change or re-key the locks when you move to a new home. A locksmith may charge $40 to $100 or more to re-key locks or, if you prefer to do it yourself, re-key kits are available at hardware stores for less than $20.
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Keep garage doors secure, especially those that connect to the house from inside the garage and doors leading to the garage from outside. Use a padlock to secure the inside of the garage door.
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Keep windows locked, especially on the home’s lower level where they can be an attractive target for criminals.
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