Joel Barkman, NVIA Fauquier County Chapter President

Indoor Air Quality

by Joel Barkman

As residents of Fauquier county we enjoy relatively good outdoor air quality - some of the cleanest in the state.

According to the American Lung Association breathing polluted air can seriously harm your health and even shorten your life. For 10 years, the American Lung Association has used data from state air quality monitors to produce its annual State of the Air report (www.stateoftheair.org).

"The more you learn about the air you breathe, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make our cleaner and healthier."

But what about the air we breathe — indoors? You may be familiar with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR program for homes. Along the same track the EPA has created a new program — Indoor airPLUS — to help builders meet the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air quality.

EPA developed additional construction specifications to help improve indoor air quality in new homes.

Construction specifications include the careful selection of and installation of moisture control systems; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems; combustion-venting systems; radon resistant construction; and low-emitting building materials. Of course the EPA encourages consumers to ask about the Indoor airPLUS qualification for your next new home.

To become Indoor airPLUS qualified, a builder must first design a home to earn the ENERGY STAR label — the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. The result is a home that is significantly more energy efficient than a home built to minimum code, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To earn the Indoor airPLUS label, the builder then adds up to 30 home design and construction features to help protect qualified homes from moisture and mold, pests, combustion gases, and other airborne pollutants. Before the home officially earns the Indoor airPLUS label, it is inspected by an independent third-party to ensure compliance with EPA's rigorous guidelines and specifications, including:

Moisture Control: moisture leads to mold and other biological pollutants that can cause health problems. With Indoor airPLUS, builders use a variety of moisture control features designed to minimize these risks, including improved control of condensation and better roof, wall and foundation drainage.

Radon Control: exposure to radon, a naturally occurring radioactive, invisible, and odorless gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Indoor airPLUS specifications include radon-resistant construction techniques (in areas with high radon potential).

Pest Management : residue from pests, such as rodents and cockroaches, can trigger allergy and asthma attacks. With Indoor airPLUS, builders seal, caulk or screen where pests enter a home.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC): poorly designed and installed HVAC systems can lead to comfort problems and reduce indoor air quality. Indoor airPLUS includes properly engineered systems, improved duct and equipment installation, improved filtration, and whole-house and spot ventilation to dilute and remove indoor air pollutants. Builders also inspect air-handling equipment and ductwork to ensure they are clean and free of debris and provide adequate air flow.

Combustion Venting: Poorly vented heating equipment can cause combustion gases to accumulate inside the home. Indoor airPLUS can help protect you from exposure to combustion pollutants by using properly vented heating equipment, installing carbon monoxide alarms in all sleeping areas, and taking steps to stop garage pollutants from entering your home.

Building Materials: the types of materials that builders choose and the way they manage them during construction can improve a home's indoor air quality. Indoor airPLUS specifications reduce the sources of pollutants inside the home by protecting materials stored on-site from weather damage, using materials with less chemicals, and ventilating the home prior to move-in.

Homeowner Education: educating homeowners on maintaining their Indoor airPLUS homes is key to good indoor air quality. Indoor airPLUS homeowners receive a checklist of verified indoor air quality features, and instructions for operating and maintaining equipment to continue minimizing risks of indoor air quality problems.

In an effort to improve our communities please join me and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in support of EPA's voluntary building programs. And remember, if a healthier, more efficient home is on your wish list, just "Ask a Builder."

For more information about Indoor airPLUS or other building programs, use our contact form to send your questions, or write to "Ask a Builder" at P.O. box 294, Catlett, VA 20119.

Barkman is president of the Fauquier Chapter of The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

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