volatile organic compounds, definition of

A heat pump is an electrically powered mechanical device that takes heat from one location and transfers it to another location. An air conditioner is an example of a heat pump in that it takes heat out of the interior space and then rejects that heat to the outdoors. However, a true heat pump can work in either direction, unlike an air conditioner; in that it can take heat out of an interior space, or it can put heat into an interior space.

• This lightweight, soda can-sized air purifier destroys mold, VOCs and odors
  Did you know that indoor air pollution can be as bad as or worse than outdoor air pollution? From off-gassing chemicals in paints to mold and dust, the contaminated air inside our homes and offices negatively impacts our health and can lead to fatigue...
• Your shampoo and deodorant are as bad for you as car exhaust
  That stuff you use to get ready in the morning? It could be as bad for your health and the planet as car pollution. A new study shows that half of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in our air come from products like shampoo, perfume, deodorant, as...
• Charming wood teardrop trailer is perfect for off-grid eco adventures
  The design for Homegrown Trailers’ sustainable travel trailer began when co-founder Corey Weathers struggled to find a camper that was not only functional, but also green and beautiful as well...
• Charming off-the-grid teardrop trailer is perfect for the eco-minded adventurer
  The design for Homegrown Trailers’ sustainable travel trailer began when co-founder Corey Weathers struggled to find a camper that was not only functional, but also green and beautiful as well...
• INFOGRAPHIC: Best plants for removing indoor toxins
  Houseplants do a superb job at removing the hidden toxins lurking in the home. Those toxins, also known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), can be found in many common household items from paints to floor wax. ProFlowers put together a handy that the
• INFOGRAPHIC: How polluted is the air in your home?
  How clean is the air in your home? Although you might not be aware of them, it's possible that many pollutants are swirling around your living space and affecting your health...
• GREEN BUILDING 101: Indoor Environmental Quality—Clean Air and Comfort for Homes and Office Spaces
  Feeling good in our homes or offices isn't just a matter of having a beautiful space: No matter how fabulous your furnishings, a poorly designed indoor environment can literally make you sick...
• Plant-Invading Fungi Could Be the Key to Creating the Next Sustainable Biofuel
  Image via Wikimedia Commons/Jensbn Fungus might ruin your bread but its invasive nature could also lead to a new source of renewable energy. Scientists at Montana State University made a surprising discovery while conducting a recent study that tracks...
• Los Angeles Cuts Vehicle Pollution By A Massive 98% Since 1960!
  Bart Everett / Shutterstock.com Los Angeles can be a pedestrian’s nightmare with its sprawling highways and eternal traffic jams. But if you think it’s bad today, think about what it must have been like in the 1960s – because according...
• EPA Introduces Regulations Limiting Hydraulic Fracturing Emissions
  Today the EPA finally introduced long-delayed regulations requiring natural gas companies to utilize technologies that reduce or eliminate the emission of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCS) from fracking...