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  Contributed by Stacie Campbell Aguesse, solar energy expert and green living aficionado.

Houseplants are a beautiful addition to your décor, but did you know they are also excellent for your indoor air quality (IAQ)?

NASA has studied the topic in depth for space station projects, and has ranked commonly available houseplants for their air cleansing properties.  For a 2000 ft² home, the study recommends having at least 15 houseplants to cleanse the air.

English ivy, gerbera daisies, pot mums, peace lily, bamboo palm, and Mother-in-law's Tongue were found to be the best plants for treating air contaminated with Benzene, a common chemical released from detergents, paint, and tobacco smoke. The peace lily, gerbera daisy, and bamboo palm were very effective in treating Trichloroethylene, a common chemical in adhesives and compressed wood furniture.

Additionally, NASA found that the bamboo palm, Mother-in-law's tongue, dracaena warneckei, peace lily, dracaena marginata, golden pathos, and green spider plant worked well for filtering Formaldehyde, common in plywood, insulation, and carpet.

The top ten houseplants for overall IAQ, according to the study, are:

1. Philondendron scandens 'oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron

2. Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron

3. Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', cornstalk dracaena

4. Hedera helix, English ivy

5. Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant

6. Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig', Janet Craig dracaena

7. Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii', Warneck dracaena

8. Fiscus benjamina, weeping fig

9. Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos

10. Spathiphyllum 'Mauna Loa', peace lily

Take a moment this month to freshen your home naturally using houseplants!

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Contributed by Stacie Campbell Aguesse, solar energy expert and green living aficionado

Cabin fever may be making you ready for a change to your interiors.  But for the sake of your indoor air quality, you may want to save your improvements for the springtime.  Paint, new furniture, and new surfaces like carpet are major culprits for reduced IAQ.

February is a great time to collect your ideas for home improvements and make room in your home the new.  As spring sets in, and your windows open with the warmer weather, you’ll be ready to make the changes with a reduced impact on your home’s indoor air quality.

If you're planning to paint, choose a paint marked "Low" or "No VOC", which means it releases fewer harmful chemicals into the air. Keep windows open as much as possible during the painting and for at least a week after painting is complete. If you're changing carpeting or furniture at the same time, paint first. Not only does this help eliminate unwanted splatters on your new surfaces, but absorbent materials can collect paint fumes and re-release them over time.

For changes to your furnishings, look for items marked with the new Greenguard label from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) which are certified to have lower VOC levels.  Always unwrap new furniture outdoors and let them off-gas for several hours before moving them indoors.  And for a double-green action -  buy used furniture!  The majority of off-gassing occurs when furniture is brand new, which means that used furniture will not only be better for your indoor air quality, but also help recycle existing items.

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Contributed by Stacie Campbell Aguesse - solar energy expert and green living aficionado.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) can be improved with simple changes to our cleaning routine.

Step One:

Vacuum and dust frequently.  Keeping the dust and allergen levels low within your home can help improve the quality of the air.  Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA air filter, which helps to clean the air before releasing it back into your home.

Step Two:

If you have central heating and cooling, have your air ducts cleaned and sealed internally.  This is important for both old and new homes:  Older homes have dust buildup from over the years, and new homes likely have construction dust and residue that needs to be cleared out.  NADCA.com offers a list of National Air Duct Cleaners Association members who use recommended methods; the average cost is around $300-$500.

Step Three:

Choose natural, water-based cleaning products, and use only as much as needed.  Avoid aerosol sprays which disperse more chemical particles into the air, and dispose of any products that you no longer use as they emit chemicals even from their sealed containers.

Step Four:

Nix the air fresheners and scented candles.  Many air fresheners contain harmful chemicals that increase asthma, allergies, and even cause reproductive disorders.  If your home needs a pick-me-up, try heating herbs on the stovetop which release their natural aromas.  One to try:  Heat apple cider with a cinnamon stick to make your home smell like fresh-baked apple pie!

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Contributed by Stacie Campbell Aguesse - Solar energy expert and green living aficionada.

What in the world is IAQ?  And why should you be concerned about it?  Well, it stands for Indoor Air Quality, and it impacts your family every single day. 

Experts at the EPA estimate that the air inside US homes may be 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, and can be as much as 100 times more polluted in some cases!  As we huddle inside during the winter weather and seal our homes against the cold, indoor air quality tends to degrade - which may be why February has been named “International Care about your Indoor Air Month”.

Poor IAQ can cause respiratory problems and illnesses, and generally make us feel lousy with headaches, dry eyes, nausea, and fatigue.  But what can be done to clean up our IAQ?  This month on GreenChix we’ll be giving you tips toward healthy indoor air.

Here is an introduction to IAQ, thanks to the ladies of the Today Show.