Indoor Air Quality
“Indoor air quality” refers to how clean the air in a building is.
As buildings become more airtight and energy efficient, actively managing indoor air quality becomes more important. Some air pollutants, like carbon monoxide, are highly dangerous. Others, like volatile organic compounds, can cause short-term health problems as well as chronic ones.
Moisture management, adequate ventilation, and selection of low-VOC products are some of the best ways to ensure good IAQ.
Indoor Air Quality
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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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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Natural Ventilation: The Nine Biggest Obstacles and How Project Teams Are Beating Them
Feature Article
Designers are reinventing the art and science of passive comfort control even where climate and culture favor mechanical systems.
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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.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Choosing Between an ERV and an HRV
Explainer
Don't get fooled into buying a more expensive and complex system if what you really need is a dehumidifier.
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Post-Occupancy Evaluations: Ignorance Isn't Bliss
Explainer
POEs tell you everything you ever wanted to know about your buildings. Don't be afraid to ask.
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Radon Risks and Prevention
Explainer
Radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., can get into our homes and bodies without us knowing it-and its presence doesn't depend on geology or locale.
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Programmable Thermostats
Explainer
Programmable thermostats can save a lot of energy, but to do so, they have to be operated correctly.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Composite Wood: EPA, California, and LEED v4 Requirements
Product Review
EPA criteria are similar to CARB’s and create a federal formaldehyde standard for composite wood. We explain the LEED ramifications of these emission standards.
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Heat-Pump Energy Recovery Ventilation Gets an Update
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.
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Do Living Walls Make for Cleaner Indoor Air?
Product Review
Nedlaw Living Wall Biofilters do more than most green walls to remove VOCs, but it’s unclear that they provide a true fresh air supply.
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Façade as Ventilation: Moving beyond Open Windows
Product Review
AirFlow Panels supply air and recover energy on commercial building façades, improving air quality while reducing energy and space requirements.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Six Ways the COVID Pandemic Is Changing IAQ for Good
News Analysis
CDC has set a stringent new minimum for everyday ventilation, and ASHRAE has released standard 241, the first IAQ standard addressing infectious disease. Both moves challenge long-held assumptions about clean air.
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Resilience SOS: How to Save Kids’ Minds, Lungs, and Housing
News Analysis
Global heating is already making today’s children more vulnerable, a new EPA report reveals. Adaptation measures are needed to protect them.
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Electrification Can Make Hot, Stuffy Classrooms a Thing of the Past
News Brief
Electrification of HVAC systems in schools could improve student health and learning outcomes while fighting climate change.
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Gas Stoves: Like a Cigarette Smoker in Your Kitchen?
News Brief
Benzene concentrations from unburned fossil gas can exceed health recommendations, but it’s highly regional, researchers found.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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