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:
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finding the right level of ventilation
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specifying products that won’t emit problematic chemicals
- controlling pressure differentials to avoid unintentional introduction of polluted air
IN-DEPTH
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Can Commercial Kitchens Go Electric?
Feature Article
An all-electric commercial kitchen offers potential energy and carbon savings over using natural gas, but making the switch can be complicated—and even controversial.
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Can Commercial Kitchens Go Electric?
Spotlight Report
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Aerosols and Micro-droplets: HVAC Approaches During COVID-19
News Analysis
Good indoor air quality will help if SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, and tried-and-true measures can get us there.
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ASHRAE Releases COVID-19 Recommendations
News Brief
ASHRAE offers guidance on how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through HVAC systems.
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Air Filtration in Schools May Improve Test Scores
News Brief
Students with cleaner indoor air significantly out-performed their peers in a recent study.
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Mind the Gaps: Making Existing Buildings More Airtight
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.
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Clean, Fresh Air: Getting What We Need
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.
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VOCs: Why They’re Still Here and What You Can Do About It
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.
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Behind the Logos: Understanding Green Product Certifications
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.
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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
Feature Article
Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
