Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
ByBecause Americans spend about 90 percent of their time inside, indoor air quality is a serious issue. Many factors can affect indoor air quality, including poor ventilation, high temperatures and high humidity. The good news is indoor air pollution is a risk that you can do something about.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. In addition, most home heating and cooling systems do not bring outdoor air inside—they merely treat and circulate indoor air. As a result, indoor air pollutants can be present in levels 2 to 5 times those in outdoor air, according to the EPA.
To increase indoor air quality on your own, try these techniques: Open windows and doors, turn on window or attic fans (when the weather permits), or run a window air-conditioner with the vent control open to increase the ventilation rate. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors will remove contaminants, including moisture, directly from the room—and also increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.
At EDGE Energy, we focus on making your home as energy efficient as possible. This often means sealing the home to reduce or prevent air leaks. However, we are conscious of indoor air quality and we want your home to be both comfortable and healthy.
In some cases, we may recommend installing a home air exchanger; these can come with or without moisture control. An air exchanger will regularly replace some indoor air with outdoor air.
Additional Information:
EPA: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
‘Fresh Ideas’ booklet from the Home Ventilating Institute
EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds
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