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Orange is the New Green
by Nathan Cocozza
In a time when we actively seek out business alternatives that reduce environmental impact, many of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of an electric car that will travel 300 miles on one charge and actually work for five or six years (oh, and cost less than $30,000). I am personally waiting for an inexpensive solar alternative that allows me to pay very little for the system and eliminate my energy bill.
Until these things happen, however, there is much we can do by starting
to search for greener alternatives to everyday business tasks. Some of these can provide substantial reductions in emissions and avert significant environmental damage.
Termite elimination is one of them, and its impact may surprise a good many readers here. There are many ways to deal with termite infestations in a property. The first option adopted by many property owners is to insert two correctly sized fingers into two hearing holes on side of head and hope that the termites do not eat too quickly! This strategy, although boasting many advantages—lower treatment costs, less hassle and no disruption to residents—does not actually fix the problem. In fact, it will often dramatically increase the ultimate cost of resolving the problem, when the time comes to fix or sell the property.
The second option is to fix the problem by using a few different methods. Treatment with a noninvasive spot treatment is an old favorite. The theory is to try and frighten the termites into moving to another side of the building or even to a neighboring property. Freeze them with an ice machine, zap them with electric-shock guns or gently boil them using microwave guns. Yes, some seriously promote these three methods. However, these are considered secondary treatments, which are not designed to solve the entire structural problem, just the infestation that is seen (and shot at!).
The more conclusive choice is to retain a reputable company that accesses a treatment methodology designed to eradicate termites in an entire structure; and then guarantees that the property will remain termite free. When considering a primary treatment provider, fumigation and orange oil are the two dominant options.
Fumigation
Each year, we pump more than an estimated 9 million pounds of acutely toxic structural fumigant gasses into the air around us. The gasses used in structural fumigations can often be harmful, if exposure happens in sufficient concentration. The problem lies in the term sufficient concentration. The Department of Pesticide Regulation recently announced it will launch a full re-evaluation of several of the most popular fumigant gasses, based on an ongoing concern that current safety regulations do not adequately mitigate potential health concerns. “Based on the current exposure assessment, it appears that worker, bystander and residential exposure cannot be mitigated using currently known mitigation strategies,” according to a DPR press release.
A thumbnail sketch of fumigation demonstrates how the only option for conclusive termite elimination for many decades has been to cover the entire structure with tarps and inject toxic gasses. The majority of owners had few alternatives, especially given lender requirements required in addressing Section 1 items prior to the closing date for most sales.
Unfortunately, the chemicals used are also highly toxic and lead to many other complications. Namely, you cannot be around when a treatment is done. This means the owner of the property needs to find alternative arrangements for any residents impacted by the treatment. Secondly, residents will have to remove all food and medications before vacating. The reason for removing these items is that the chemicals can be absorbed by your food and medications. Finally, all vegetation has to be removed from inside and around the perimeter of the property, as the gas often kills plants.
XT2000 Orange Oil Treatment
Orange oil is quickly gaining ground over the traditional fumigation treatment method. This treatment involves using orange oil to treat termites, instead of highly-toxic manufactured chemicals. Orange oil’s main ingredient is d-Limonene, which is found in the rind of an orange. D-Limonene is created by the oranges as a natural defense against insects. It is obviously a renewable resource (we are all drinking orange juice, so there are plenty of peels to go around). It turns out that orange oil is fatal to termites; and by injecting the oil into an active termite infestation, the orange oil is capable of a 100% kill rate. Buildings treated with orange oil show its extraordinary power to eradicate termites.
The main advantages of orange oil are: it is classified by the EPA as “generally
regarded as safe”; it is a completely renewable resource that has no adverse environmental impact; no residents have to leave the property; there is no chance of introducing hybrid chemicals into people’s homes; and there will be no damage to roofs or landscaping.
The Bottom Line
Both fumigation and orange oil treatments will eradicate termites. They cost about the same, although orange oil is often significantly cheaper, when the inconvenience of relocating residents is taken into account. Both treatments are offered by companies that will provide owners with a full warranty (typically one or two years). And both treatments have proven effective at hundreds of thousands of properties.
As a property owner, you have choices. Choosing a reputable company that offers complete property warranties is the most important choice. And if this can be achieved by supporting the advancement of safe and environmentally friendly treatment options, then residents and owners can feel good that the problem is resolved, with minimum disruption and no adverse environmental impact.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the SFAA or the SF Apartment Magazine. Nathan Cocozza is the president of Planet Orange Termite Services, the largest orange oil specialist in Northern California. He advocates for green initiatives and has managed both technology and service businesses focusing on reduction in emissions. He can be contacted at ncocozza@naturalorangeinc.com; his website is www.planetorangetermite.com. Copyright © 2009 by Black Point Press. All rights reserved.