Creating Better Housing Environments Inside and Out: Understanding EPA's Indoor Air PLUS Program

U.S. EPA studies have shown that levels of air pollution inside the home are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Indoor pollution derives from a variety of internal and external sources and can have negative effects ranging from poor occupant health, durability concerns for the home, increased litigation, lower customer satisfaction, and higher societal costs for health care. The proper strategy to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) is to eliminate it at the source, and then to ventilate or filtrate. EPA's Indoor airPLUS (IAP) label, which builds upon the well known ENERGY STAR for Homes program, helps builders implement this strategy by incorporating more than 30 home design and construction features into a systemic and concise framework.

These features can help protect people from mold, radon, chemicals, combustion gases, and other airborne pollutants. The IAP requirements are designed to be comprehenisve in scope and yet manageable for builders, raters, and trades to implement within the ENERGY STAR labeling process. IAP was also designed to be compatible with green building programs.

With the EPA Indoor airPLUS label, builders can reduce risks to their customers and their business, while they distinguish themselves in the new home market. This session will describe the Indoor airPLUS program and discuss how it is helping transform the residential construction market to one that creates better environments both inside (with IAQ) and out (with energy efficiency).