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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
The Questionable Science Behind VOC Emissions Testing
Feature Short
We need the protection that product VOC testing provides, but it’s far from the last word on human health in buildings.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
-
Programmable Thermostats
Explainer
Programmable thermostats can save a lot of energy, but to do so, they have to be operated correctly.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Three Sources of Air-Pressure Problems in Buildings
Explainer
Air movement in and through buildings caused by pressure differentials has important effects on performance and safety.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
-
Countertops
Product Guide
Select the surface that meets the design objectives, meets health and environmental criteria, and has the greatest durability.
-
NightBreeze Automates Ventilation Cooling
Product Review
NightBreeze uses off-peak power to provide ventilation cooling integrated with a home's mechanical system.
-
Matrix Total Home System Offers All-in-One Efficiency
Product Review
The Matrix Total Home System from NTI is an energy-efficient mechanical system that includes forced-air and hydronic heating as well as energy recovery and ventilation in one space-efficient unit.
-
Convia's Energy-Management Platform
Product Review
Convia and Wiremold have partnered to provide a modular, highly adjustable energy distribution infrastructure and reporting tool.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
-
GSA Moving Towards Ban on Underfloor Air
News Analysis
The General Services Administration is scrutinizing underfloor air distribution after experiencing high leakage rates with its systems.
-
High Staff Retention at First LEED Platinum Hospital
News Analysis
Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, Texas, is the first LEED Platinum hospital.
-
EnOcean Alliance Disseminates Wireless Control Technology for Hotel Use
News Analysis
-
New Standard Showcases Efficiency of VRF Multi-Splits
News Analysis
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recently created a standard that evaluates the efficiency of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split heating and cooling systems. AHRI 1230 allows a comparison between VRF multi-splits and unitary HVAC systems that was not possible previously.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
-
Affordable Housing or Green Housing? We Can Say Yes to Both
Webcast
Yes, available funding for building and rehabilitating affordable housing is inadequate—but that’s all the more reason to get this right when we get the chance.
-
Build Green on a Budget: Lessons from Affordable Housing
Spotlight Report
