Newly Constructed Homes in Los Altos May Pose Health Hazard

There have been several recent articles in the press discussing the appearance of higher levels of formaldehyde in newly constructed homes in Los Altos. Linda Kincaid, a Certified Industrial Hygienist, wrote an article that has raised some eyebrows in the green building community.

Kincaid is claiming that since Los Altos adopted the Green Point Rated requirements in home construction in 2008, homes are constructed to be more efficient but possibly at a cost to indoor air quality. 

If you are purchasing a newly constructed home, you might want to talk with the builder about the measures taken to improve the indoor air quality of the home.  You may also want to have the home tested.

Other resource articles:

Allegations Emerge of High Formaldehyde Levels in Green Buildings

Elevated formaldehyde in new Los Altos homes

Formaldehyde and Air Quality