Fiber Science & Apparel Design

Home*A*Syst is a nation-wide pollution prevention, and risk assessment program that is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A national office provides guidelines and educational support to all fifty states where Home*A*Syst is implemented locally. In New York State, Home*A*Syst is offered as an educational program of Cornell Cooperative Extension. It is coordinated by the Water Quality Extension Program with partial funding from the USDA Water Quality Initiative and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Home*A*Syst is voluntary and confidential. It is designed primarily as a self-help program for homeowners, property owners, and renters. However, Home*A*Syst may be useful for anyone interested in pollution risks or health hazards. For more information about a local Home*A*Syst program in your community, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension in your county.

Objectives of Home*A*Syst

• Identify pollution risks and health hazards found inside the home and around the property.
• Learn more about better home and property management, and where to find additional information.
• Develop a plan to safeguard the health and well-being of the family, enhance the financial value of the home, and protect the environment from contamination.

The Home*A*Syst Guidebook

This easy-to-use risk assessment guidebook is a valuable reference for residents of rural and suburban areas. The guidebook is for people who care about their health and the environment, and who are willing to take steps -- no matter how small -- to improve how they manage their homes.

The Home*A*Syst guidebook shows how to reduce your impact on natural systems, cut back your use of the Earth's resources, and protect your investment by identifying pollution risks on your property before expensive problems occur. The Home*A*Syst guidebook contains eleven chapters, each one addressing a specific topic. Every chapter in the Home*A*Syst guidebook contains background information, illustrations, and easy-to-use worksheets and checklists for assessing whether pollution risks and health hazards are high, medium, or low.

• Property Site Assessment
• Storm water Management (erosion control)
• Drinking Water Well Protection
• Household Waste water Treatment
• Hazardous Household Products
• Lead In and Around the Home
• Yard and Garden Care
• Liquid Fuels Storage
• Indoor Air Quality
• Heating and Cooling Systems (energy conservation)
• Household Trash (recycling and composting)

To order your own copy of the Home*A*Syst guidebook, contact:

Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service

Home*A*Syst Programs by New York State County