Indoor Environment Links

Envirosense
The Envirosense Consortium is a nonprofit consortium, started by a group of companies who offer a Solutions strategy to addressing indoor air quality. The Envirosense approach focuses on a Total Systems perspective. Some useful links and helpful information/roundtables etc

Greenguard
A registry for products that have been tested and found to meet applicable government and NGO standards for emissions.

Healthy House Institute
The Healthy House Institute was started by John and Lynn Bower in 1992. It offers books and videos for designers, architects, contractors, and homeowners relating especially to indoor air quality and other home environment issues. Their site includes a Healthy House Quiz, selected articles on health issues related to building materials and indoor air quality, and tidbits of wisdom from one of the best (and most prolific!) authors on low-toxic houses.

IAQ List
This e-mail discussion group on indoor air quality issues is quite active and fairly technical. A very useful resource for professionals! The URL ablove lets you susbscribe to the list. Registration is required.

Indoor Air Quality
The Web site of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Division contains lots of useful information on mold, radon, asbestos, and other indoor air hazards.

INFORM
INFORM promotes strategies for sustainable development and business practice. Their web site contains several online reports in Adobe PDF format, including, "Building for the Future," and "Gearing Up for Hydrogen."

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Indoor Environment Department
The DOE's Indoor Environment Program characterizes and measures indoor pollutants and their sources; evaluates the energy performance of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings; develops techniques and devices for detecting, characterizing, and measuring indoor air pollutants; and works with academia and governmental health agencies to assess the risks to human health from various indoor air pollutants.

The Noise Pollution Clearinghouse
Probably the best resource for all types of information on noise and its control--from a law library to technical references on the myriad of noise impacts. Its well-maintained bibliography is always worth checking out for the most current articles and publications on noise.

Vermont SIRI Material Safety Data Sheets
A huge, searchable database of Material Safety Data Sheets on common products and chemicals. Useful for check on possible health effects of materials. Mirrored by related sites in Florida and California.

The Vital Signs Project
The Vital Signs Project encourages architecture students to examine architectural, lighting, and mechanical systems in existing buildings with attention to energy use, occupant well-being, and architectural spacemaking. The Web site features detailed case studies and related resources.