Why does
indoor air quality
matter?
People are increasingly concerned about
mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and toxic
chemicals in their homes. Poor indoor
air quality can lead to eye irritation,
headaches, allergies, respiratory problems
such as asthma, and other serious health
problems.
EPA studies show that levels of many
indoor air pollutants can be two to five
times higher than outdoor levels. And since
most people spend close to 90% of their
time indoors, keeping indoor pollution
levels as low as possible is the right thing
to do for you and your family.
How can building practices
help improve
indoor air quality?
Builders can use a variety of construction
practices and technologies to decrease the
risk of poor indoor air quality, including
careful selection and installation of building
materials; heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning (HVAC) systems; combustion-
venting systems; and moisture control
techniques.
It's not easy for homebuyers to keep track
of all the preferred construction details that
lead to improved indoor air quality. That's
why EPA created the Indoor airPLUS label.
Ask for it in your next new home.
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Breathe Easy
In Your NEW
Indoor airPLUS Home
Designed and built for improved indoor air
quality and energy efficiency.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
Only ENERGY STAR Certified
Homes are eligible to earn
the Indoor airPLUS label.
Office of Air and Radiation
EPA 402/F-14/001 I February 2014
www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
All Indoor airPLUS qualified homes also met
strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by
ENERGY STAR, the nationally-recognized syi
LEARN MORE AT
lenergystar.gov
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Better Environments
Inside and Out
Look for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Indoor airPLUS and ENERGY
STAR labels on your new home.
Reduced indoor air pollutants help protect
your family inside. Reduced greenhouse gas
emissions help protect the air outside.
Homes displaying the Indoor airPLUS and
ENERGY STAR Certified Home labels provide
unparalleled energy efficiency, comfort,
durability, indoor air quality, and peace of mind.
CERTIFIED
NEW HOME
Indoor airPLUS construction specifications
are designed to improve the indoor air quality
(IAQ) in new homes compared to minimum
code. However, these features cannot prevent
all IAQ problems. Occupant behavior is also
important for IAQ. Products used in the home
by its occupants and smoking indoors may
both negatively impact the home's IAQ and the
performance of the specified Indoor airPLUS
features.
What does it take to earn an
Indoor airPLUS label?
Start with ENERGY STAR
Every Indoor airPLUS home must first earn
the ENERGY STAR Certified Home label, the
trusted symbol of energy efficiency. ENERGY
STAR certified homes are between 15% and
30% more energy efficient than code-built
homes.
Add indoor air quality improvements
Additional home design and construction
features are included in the Indoor airPLUS
label to help protect homes from airborne
contaminants. These features stop air
pollutants at the source and properly seal
and ventilate the home.
Finish with independent verification
The home's energy performance and key
indoor air quality features are verified by an
independent third-party inspector to ensure
that the builder has met all of EPA's rigorous
guidelines for energy efficiency and indoor air
quality.
What features are included in
Indoor airPLUS homes?
Mold and Moisture Control: Excess moisture
breeds mold, attracts pests and deteriorates
building materials. Mold is a common trigger for
allergy and asthma symptoms. Indoor airPLUS
homes have additional construction features,
including improved roof, wall, and foundation
drainage to keep water where it belongs—
outside of the home. Moisture-resistant building
materials are also required in moisture-sensitive
areas of the home and building materials are
required to be kept dry during construction.
Efficient Heating, Ventilating, and Air-
Conditioning Systems (HVAC): Poorly
designed and installed HVAC systems can lead to
comfort and air quality problems. ENERGY STAR
certified homes include properly engineered
systems and quality installation requirements.
Indoor airPLUS homes add enhanced filtration;
additional dehumidification capacity in warm,
moist climates; and inspection of air handling
systems and duct work to ensure they are clean,
free of debris, and provide adequate airflow.
Combustion Venting: Fuel-burning appliances
can release dangerous gases, like carbon
monoxide. All ENERGY STAR and Indoor
airPLUS labeled homes include furnaces, water
heaters, and other combustion appliances that
are specially vented to prevent back drafting of
pollutants into the home. All Indoor airPLUS
homes also include carbon monoxide alarms in
each sleeping area.
Building Materials: Many building materials
release chemicals (often called volatile organic
compounds, or VOCs) into the indoor air,
sometimes long after the home is constructed.
These chemicals can produce strong odors, and
cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as
other effects in sensitive people. Indoor airPLUS
homes use no-VOC or low-VOC paints, carpets,
and low-formaldehyde manufactured wood
products.
Pest Management: Pests, like rodents and
cockroaches, can trigger allergy and asthma
symptoms, as well as cause structural damage.
Indoor airPLUS homes seal or screen pest entry
points, reducing the need for pesticide use.
Radon Resistance: Radon is the second
leading cause of lung cancer. In high-radon
zones, Indoor airPLUS homes are built using
radon-resistant construction techniques.
Homeowner Education: After purchasing a
home with the Indoor airPLUS label, owners
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.
For more information, visit
www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
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