Indoor Air Quality

Photo: Alejandro Ormad. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

OVERVIEW

As buildings become more airtight and energy efficient, actively managing indoor air quality becomes more important. Not only are some air pollutants highly dangerous, but many—like radon and carbon monoxide—are undetectable by human senses. And with 90% of our time typically spent indoors, slight elevations of VOCs can amount to chronic exposures.

Here you’ll learn what pollutants to be wary of and ways to promote clean, fresh air, including:

  • finding the right level of ventilation

  • specifying products that won’t emit problematic chemicals

  • controlling pressure differentials to avoid unintentional introduction of polluted air

Filter results:

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  • Bringing Nature Indoors: The Myths and Realities of Plants in Buildings
    September 25, 2008

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    Some proponents of indoor plants promise that they will clean the air and promote occupant health and productivity. But will they? Scientific backing for these claims is still being developed, but some of the results are promising.

  • Ductless Mini-Splits and Their Kin: The Revolution in Variable-Refrigerant-Flow Air Conditioning
    July 29, 2008

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    Ductless split systems using heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow offer an energy-efficient alternative to conventional heating and air-conditioning systems for a variety of settings, from homes to hotels and schools. Three major manufacturers-Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Sanyo-offer the greatest variety of products.