Healthy home Q&A.

Q: I recently bought a home and I have a studio apartment in my daylight basement. It has lots of light (northeast exposure ... southern side is bermed into the earth). The basement is dry and has never had water in it or any signs of mold. However, there is a musty smell and it already has new nylon carpeting, linoleum, and paint. What would be the recommended air purification system?

--Margaret, Black Mountain, NC

A: If there is no sign of mold or mildew, an air test is normally recommended to find out the source of the contamination causing the odor. Keep in mind, though, that humidity is really the controlling factor when mold is present. Normally the musty smell you are aware of is produced from mold or other fungi. Porous materials such as carpet or upholstered furniture provide a breeding ground for microbes when the humidity is high. You said that the basement is dry, but really a hygrometer (humidity gauge) will give you a better indication of just how dry it really is. Purchase a quality gauge from a store like Radio Shack. Water does not have to be present for the humidity to be elevated. I suspect that the structure was not sealed properly (the part below ground level) or the humidity is high in the area around your home. Since a basement is relatively cool, minimal air-conditioning is required, and therefore even less moisture removal is accomplished.

The key is to keep the humidity below fifty percent. More often than not, a dehumidifier should be the first consideration rather than an air purifier. Some dehumidifiers have some filtration capabilities as well.

Audrey Franklin is a chemist in the Atlanta area who founded Pure Life Inc. Specializing in air and water filtration as well as environmentally safe building products for residential and commercial use. There toll free number is 800-510-8342 or visit purelifeinc.com.

Q: What homes qualify for an Energy Efficient Mortgage? What are the benefits of such a loan?

A: The Energy Efficient Mortgage is a new loan product designed to promote energy efficient housing. They are available for new homes (speculative housing) or for existing homes that may need a little TLC.

With either scenario, a professional analysis of the home is required by the lending institution. The concept is fairly simple: If a homeowner is spending less money on their utility bills, they will have more money available to spend on their mortgage payment. This allows the lender to increase the amount of the loan for the borrower-as much as five percent for new construction and up to fifteen percent for an existing house.

While this house will cost more initially, the monthly cash-flow for the buyer will be the same (due to lower utility bills), so the bank will allow buyers to borrow the extra money for the purchase.

For existing homes, the concept is the same. Before the purchase of the house, the home will be analyzed. Then, a list of cost-effective improvements will be created. The cumulative installed cost of these improvements, when financed over thirty years, must result in a monthly mortgage payment that is less than the monthly energy savings. Put simply, as long as the improvements save you more than they cost you (on a monthly cash-flow basis), you can improve your home from day one, saving money every month from the beginning. Otherwise, the improvements will typically be made one at a time, and will require the buyer to pay out-of-pocket.

So you might be able to replace that old oil furnace with a high efficiency unit, replace the old water heater (go solar!), add insulation, draft-proof your home, and seal your ductwork--all before you even move into your home. After all of these improvements, you'll actually be spending less money per month than you would otherwise! Pretty amazing, I think.

There are many details about this mortgage product on the web. You can visit: http://www.efanniemae.com/hcd/pdfs/EEMbrochure. pdf for a downloadable pdf brochure or call your local Wachovia or Countrywide office. These are currently the only lenders carrying this product.

Isaac Savage is president of Home Energy Partners, a Building Performance Contracting firm that is located in Asheville, NC. He can be reached at 828-350-1155 or on the web at www.HomeEnergyPartners.com