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 in LEED and Other Rating Systems
Feature Short
Most building certifications encourage low-emitting and low-VOC products, but they all do it differently. Here’s how it all fits together.
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How to Get from VOC Certifications to Better Products
Feature Short
The FDA regulates flies in our soup, but no one regulates VOCs in our indoor air. Somehow that’s a designer’s job to figure out.
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Why “Zero VOC” Was Never Enough
Feature Short
We used to look for coatings, adhesives, and sealants that contained no VOCs. Great for smog prevention, but IAQ and installer health are also important.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Tuning Today’s Building Designs to Tomorrow’s Climate
News Analysis
A new modeling tool, WeatherShift, helps designers see how designs today can account for comfort, resilience, and energy needs decades down the line.
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Pushing Weatherization, Feds Look the Other Way on Radon
News Analysis
When using federal dollars to button up, low-income homeowners don't get additional funding for radon mitigation. What happens next? The government isn't telling.
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Radon and Schools: A Study in Denial
News Analysis
Most U.S. states get an 'F' when it comes to protecting kids from this common but deadly carcinogen. Maybe it's time for design teams to take the lead.
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Radon Not the Only Soil Gas to Poison Minnesota Homes
News Brief
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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