Old building materials pose hazards

Re: 'Double standards hamper green building' (June 6)

Dear Editor:

While I share the sentiment about double standards, I have to take exception to some of the issues raised as examples. Lead paint is a serious hazard in the home, in our schools and elsewhere where young children may be. If recycled materials from a factory -- where lead paint may not have been as big an issue -- is used in a single-family home, what happens to the children in that home?

The second is asbestos, especially as a blanket insulation. My grandmother's home was constructed in 1898. It had this blanket around the heater. The blanket got moisture in it and rotted over the first 100 years. When it finally had to be replaced, there was a lot of asbestos fiber in the air while they were working on taking it out. I face the same problems when I work with asbestos cement pipe: the airborne fibers are a hazard and our building codes have to protect the population from reusing these materials.

The question about glazing a French door: Is it cheaper to use the old French door with the single glass pane and pay the extra energy costs, or re-glaze it or buy new with double-paned insulating glass, and pay less in energy use? I guess it is all in the definition of "going green."

Dan Chase
Senior engineer
Penfield & Smith
Camarillo, Calif.

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