step up to
Indoor airPLUS
EPA Indoor
a i TPLUS
A new opportunity for leading
builders to create better environments
inside and out
All Indoor airPLUS qualified homes also meet strict guidelines for
energy efficiency set by ENERGY STAR, the nationally-recognized
symbol for energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR
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Why does indoor air quality matter?
People are increasingly concerned about mold, radon, carbon monoxide,
and toxic chemicals commonly found in homes. In fact, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) studies show that levels of air pollution inside the
home are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels. And poor indoor
air quality is associated with a host of health problems, including eye
irritation, allergies, headaches, and respiratory problems such as asthma.
In addition, indoor air quality is having a sizable financial impact on the
home building industry. Litigation associated with mold and other indoor air
quality related concerns and the rising cost of liability coverage have cost
builders across the country billions of dollars.
Why design and build with
Indoor airPLUS?
Builders can employ a variety of construction practices
and technologies to decrease the risk of poor indoor
air quality in their new homes. According to surveys,
consumers are willing to pay up to $5,000 more for
these improvements.
EPA created Indoor airPLUS to help builders meet
the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air
quality. By constructing homes that meet EPAs stringent specifications,
forward-thinking builders can distinguish themselves by being among the
first to offer homes designed to deliver improved indoor air quality.*
EPA Indoor
airpius
"Indoor airPLUS construction specifications are designed to help improve
indoor air quality (IAQ) in new homes compared with homes built to
minimum code. However, these features alone cannot prevent all IAQ
problems. Occupant behavior is also important for IAQ. For example,
products used in the home after occupancy and smoking inside may both
negatively impact the home's IAQ and the performance of the specified
Indoor airPLUS features.
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a
How do homes earn the
Indoor airPLUS label?
Start with ENERGY STAR
A home must first be designed and
built to earn the ENERGY STAR—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
las emissions.
Add indoor air improvements
More than 30 additional home design
and construction features are included
in the Indoor airPLUS label to help
protect qualified homes from moisture
and mold, pests, combustion gases,
and other airborne pollutants. Some
builders already include many of
these features in their homes.
Complete the package with
independent testing and
verification
The home's energy performance and
key features of the Indoor airPLUS
label are inspected by an independent
third-party to ensure compliance with
EPA's rigorous guidelines and
specifications.
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What distinguishes new homes with
Indoor airPLUS?
With Indoor airPlus, EPA is challenging builders to step up to a new level
of excellence by building homes with professional best practices,
including the following design and construction features:
Moisture Control: Build in added protection from mold and other
moisture problems with water managed roofs, walls, and foundations.
Features include continuous drainage planes, proper flashing and air
sealing, damp-proof foundation walls, capillary breaks, drain tile, and
proper grading.
Radon Control: Provide radon-resistant construction in high radon
potential areas, including gravel and plastic sheeting below slabs, fully
sealed and caulked foundation penetrations, plastic vent pipe running
from below slab through the roof, and an attic receptacle for easily adding
an electric powered fan to the vent pipe if needed.
Pest Management: Provide a first-line defense against pest problems by
fully sealing, caulking, or screening likely pest entry points. When these
physical barriers are combined with proper pest management techniques,
pesticide use may be reduced.
Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC): Improve indoor air
quality with best practice design and installation of ducts and equipment
to minimize condensation problems, whole-house and spot ventilation to
help dilute and exhaust indoor pollutants, and air filtration to remove
airborne particulates.
Combustion Venting: Protect residents from potential exposure to
combustion gases by installing direct-vented or power-vented gas- and
oil-fired equipment, properly vented fireplaces, garages fully sealed from
living spaces and equipped with an exhaust fan, and carbon monoxide
alarms in each sleeping area.
Building Materials: Reduce sources of pollutants by selecting and
installing materials to minimize risk of moisture damage, specifying
materials with reduced chemical content, and ventilating homes prior
to occupancy.
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Quality Assurance and Homeowner
Education: Help ensure that homes
operate as designed by inspecting air-
handling equipment and ductwork to
be sure they are clean and free of
debris and provide adequate air-flow,
verifying that all necessary testing has
been performed, providing radon test
kits for homes located in high-risk
radon areas, and providing information
to educate owners about their new
home's indoor air quality features.
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Are you ready to step up to
Indoor airPLUS?
1. Work with a Home Energy Rater
Work with a local Home Energy Rater—the same people who help you
with ENERGY STAR—to ensure that your homes are designed and built to
meet Indoor airPLUS construction specifications.
2. Partner with EPA
Sign up at www.epa.gov/indoorairplus. Just fill in the Indoor airPLUS
partnership agreement, a simple online form that explains requirements
for use of the Indoor airPLUS name and mark.
3. Verify and Label Homes
Have your homes inspected by your Home Energy Rater. Indoor airPLUS
inspections can be completed along with ENERGY STAR inspection and
testing. Sign the verification checklist and affix the Indoor airPLUS label
on each qualifying home, right next to the ENERGY STAR label.
4. Promote your Competitive Advantage
Use Indoor airPLUS promotional materials and resources to gain market
advantage for your qualified homes.
More about Indoor airPLUS at: www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
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What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.
The mark identifies new homes, buildings, and more than 50 types of
products that are energy efficient and offer the features, quality, and
performance today's consumers expect.
Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR are significantly more energy efficient
than standard homes. By purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified home,
your customers can have all the features they desire in their new homes,
plus better performance and lower utility bills—all while helping reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary partnership
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.
Today, ENERGY STAR offers consumers and businesses
energy-efficient solutions to save energy, save money, and help protect
the environment for future generations.
EPA Indoor
airpius
Only ENERGY STAR qualified
homes are eligible to earn the
Indoor airPLUS label.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built
to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving
features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.
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Indoor
ITPLUS
www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
3EBV
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Air and Radiation (6609J)
EPA 402/K-09/003 I January 2009
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