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:

  • The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation

    Report/Course/Study Guide/Live Webinar

    The BuildingGreen Guide to Insulation provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including cost comparisons and detailed recommendations on what insulation to use, and what to avoid.

  • Mind the Gaps: Making Existing Buildings More Airtight
    July 25, 2017

    Feature Article

    Leaky building enclosures create health hazards, comfort problems, and high energy bills. Fixing them isn’t rocket science; but you’d better know your building science.

  • Clean, Fresh Air: Getting What We Need
    November 7, 2016

    Feature Article

    Human health probably benefits from more fresh air than current ventilation standards require. But pulling in outdoor air can mean pulling in pollution.

  • VOCs: Why They’re Still Here and What You Can Do About It
    October 4, 2016

    Feature Article

    “Sick building syndrome” was one of the first problems the green building community tried to solve. We’ve come a long way, but we’re not done yet.

  • How Six Affordable Housing Projects Got to Green
    October 6, 2017

    Feature Short

    Stories of designers and developers who overcame the challenges of building affordable housing that is also green, sustainable, and healthy.

  • Behind the Logos: Understanding Green Product Certifications
    January 2, 2008

    Feature Article

    The number of environmental product standards and certifications is growing rapidly, putting numerous different "green" logos on products. This article reviews the key programs and evaluates their rigor, and offers guidance in using them to accomplish project goals.

  • Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
    December 30, 2013

    Feature Article

    Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.

  • Heat-Pump Energy Recovery Ventilation Gets an Update
    August 2, 2017

    Product Review

    Build Equinox and Minotair Ventilation Inc. (MVI) have updated their heat-pump-based energy recovery ventilation systems, providing better control of humidity, heating, and cooling in a smaller footprint.

  • Commercial Kitchens: Cooking Up Green Opportunities
    February 1, 2010

    Feature Article

    Commercial kitchens run energy- and water-intensive equipment for long hours, sometimes even when not in use. While the challenges of saving water and energy in commercial kitchens are daunting, they're not insurmountable. Careful equipment selection and a commitment to conscientious kitchen practices can dramatically cut down on waste-and utility bills.

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

    Feature Article

    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.