Lead, asbestos, mold and similar health and safety risks can make it harder to take measures to reduce energy usage. Some energy contractors require health risks be addressed prior to energy work being performed, and health risks can make performing DIY measures difficult or even dangerous. So, we break down these issues below, including definitions and abatement opportunities.

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Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring element that is toxic to humans and animals, causing serious negative health effects, particularly for young children. Lead can be found in the air, the soil, the water, and inside our homes. Inside the home, lead is most likely to be found in paint, ceramics, pipes, and plumbing materials. 

No amount of lead is safe for children. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, childhood lead poisoning is a significant problem in New York state; the state has the most known cases of elevated child blood lead levels than any other state, according to 2021 CDC data. Lead is also dangerous to adults, who can experience headaches, stomach cramps, constipation, muscle/joint pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and loss of sex drive.

While old paint has a greater percentage of lead in it compared to new paints, the EPA still allows a small amount of lead in current paints. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), white house paint contained up to 50% lead before 1955, and various policies lowered the amount of allowable lead in paint to 1% in 1971, .06% in 1977, and .009% in 2009. The lead allowable in most paints is now 0.009%. The EPA added that when new paint is applied properly or older paint is in good shape, the lead-based paint is usually not a problem. It’s when lead-based paint starts decaying that it poses the most health risks.

According to the EPA, approximately 90% of homes built before 1940 are lead containing, 70% of homes built between 1940 and 1959 are lead containing, and 25% of homes built between 1960 and 1977 are lead containing. 

The EPA recommends lead inspections and risk assessments for any renters or homeowners who: 

  • have children diagnosed as having lead poisoning, 

  • live in a home built before 1978 where small children are or will be living, or 

  • are about to remodel or do anything that will disturb lead-based paint or generate lead-based paint dust and chips.

Inspections seek to find any lead-based paint by investigating each surface in the home. Risk assessments go further, determining the severity of the lead risk in the home and providing ways to control it. Inspections and risk assessments can be done separately or at the same time. If you’re unsure whether your home has lead, an initial inspection is your best option. Risk assessments assume there is lead in your home, so seek out a risk assessment only if you know there is lead in your home, or if you already had an inspection verifying the presence of lead. 

More information on lead is available on Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County’s YouTube channel. More information on lead in your home can be found on the EPA’s website.

Lead Abatement

Abatements are designed to get rid of lead-based paint hazards. Those who perform abatement projects must be certified by the EPA and follow specific work practices. The EPA administers the lead-based paint program in New York. View the directory of certified abatement groups.

If you need help paying for lead abatement, there are several assistance programs to help:

Some home repair assistance programs cover lead abatement. Learn more about home repair programs at https://smartenergychoices.org/home-repair. 

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Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. It can commonly be found in:

  • Attic and wall insulation produced containing vermiculite

  • Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives

  • Roofing and siding shingles

  • Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings

  • Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets

  • Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape

  • Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation

  • Heat-resistant fabrics

  • Automobile clutches and brakes

Most uses of asbestos are not banned, though there are recent efforts from the EPA to reduce usage of it nationwide. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has shown increased risk to public health, so the EPA is seeking a ban on future use of asbestos.

When asbestos is disturbed by product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repair, and remodeling, fibers too small to be seen float in the air and can be inhaled, which has been shown to increase your risk of developing lung disease. 

If you suspect a material in your home contains asbestos, the EPA advises to avoid touching it. Look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damage, hitting, rubbing or handling, or extreme vibration or air flow may release fibers.

For slightly damaged asbestos-containing material, sometimes the best way to deal with it is to limit access to the area and not to touch or disturb it. If asbestos-containing material is more than slightly damaged or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a trained and accredited asbestos professional is needed.

Asbestos Abatement

Abatement involves either repair or removal by an accredited asbestos professional. 

Repair involves either sealing or covering asbestos material. With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Sealing (encapsulation) involves treating the material with a sealant that either binds the asbestos fibers together or coats the material, so fibers are not released. Pipe, furnace and boiler insulation can sometimes be repaired this way. Covering (enclosure) involves placing a cover over or around the material that contains asbestos to prevent the release of fibers. Exposed insulated piping may be covered with a protective wrap or jacket.

Remodeling or making major changes to your home will disturb asbestos-containing material and may require removal. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos-containing material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. 

There are programs and resources for asbestos abatement. For example, the Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust (ZAI Trust) provides partial reimbursement for removal of this brand of insulation to qualified claimants. The mine this brand used accounted for over 70% of vermiculite sales in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990, so if your home installed vermiculite insulation prior to 1990, it is very likely this brand and is contaminated with asbestos.

To be eligible for reimbursement, a claimant must be able to show that vermiculite is the Zonolite Brand and how much was paid to have the vermiculite removed or contained. You must incur expenses before receiving reimbursement. The Trust will reimburse 55% of the total allowable expense (maximum reimbursement allowed is $4,934.78).

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Green Jobs – Green New York program offers residential financing [pdf] for asbestos abatement through its Smart Energy Loans, On-Bill Recovery (OBR) Loans, and Renewable Energy Tax Credit Bridge Loans.

At the state level, the Asbestos Control Bureau (ACB) oversees the abatement of toxic hazards associated with asbestos fiber and responds to complaints with regards to asbestos. All of the Southern Tier falls within ACB’s Syracuse District, available at (315) 479-3333 or SyracuseACB@labor.ny.gov.

To learn more about asbestos and asbestos removal, visit the EPA’s website. For a directory of certified abatement groups, visit this link. Some home repair assistance programs also cover asbestos abatement. Learn more about home repair programs at https://smartenergychoices.org/home-repair. 

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Mold

Molds are part of the natural environment and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is not usually a problem unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems, as they produce allergens and irritants.

The key to mold control is moisture control. Get rid of sources of excess water or moisture in the home, such as leaky plumbing or water seeping into your foundation due to lack of drainage. Gutters and rain spouts that help channel water away from your house and foundation, as well as good drainage around the foundation, can be essential to remedy interior mold issues. For rooms that are often or always damp, such as bathrooms, increase ventilation by running a fan or opening a window and clean the room regularly to keep mold at bay. 

To address mold growth in your home, you must both clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold but don't fix the water problem, the mold will likely come back.

Once you see mold growth, it’s good to act quickly because the longer it grows, the more damage it can cause. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles and carpet) that become moldy may have to be replaced. 

If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself following these guidelines; however, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.

If you hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor if they follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Green Jobs – Green New York program offers residential financing [pdf] for mold remediation through its Smart Energy Loans, On-Bill Recovery (OBR) Loans, and Renewable Energy Tax Credit Bridge Loans. 

Also at the state level, the New York State Department of Health’s Mold Program establishes licensing requirements and minimum work standards for professionals engaged in mold assessment and remediation. Visit its website for directories of certified mold removal groups or call the Syracuse District office at (315) 479-3215.

Some home repair assistance programs cover mold abatement. Learn more about home repair programs at https://smartenergychoices.org/home-repair. 

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