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Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality. What you can do to help. What’s the Problem?. We spend over 90% of our time indoors EPA has found that on average indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Formaldehyde Movie. What are the Causes?.

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Indoor air quality

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  1. Indoor air quality What you can do to help

  2. What’s the Problem? • We spend over 90% of our time indoors • EPA has found that on average indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air Formaldehyde Movie

  3. What are the Causes? Houses have become very air tight which is good for energy efficiency but bad for indoor air quality

  4. What are some of the pollutant sources? • Environmental tobacco smoke • Biological contaminants: bacteria, mold, mildew, viruses, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches and pollen. Carbon Dioxide from inhabitants. • Combustion: unvented gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces and gas stoves • Household products: paints, varnishes, hobby products and cleaning products • Pesticides: 80 percent of most people's exposure to pesticides happens inside

  5. Chemical pollutants

  6. Volatile Organic Compounds: What are they? • What do they do short term? • Breathing issues • Allergic reactions • Eye, nose, and throat irritation • Headaches and nausea • What do they do long term? • Respiratory diseases • Heart disease • Cancer

  7. Volatile Organic Compounds: What are they in? • Air Fresheners • Cleaning Products • Sprays & Coatings • Formaldehyde • Carpets & Vinyl Floors • Drywall • Paint

  8. Green Cleaning Reduces Health Risks • Custodial staff at risk - 6 out of 100 professional janitors are injured by chemicals, particularly disinfectants • Headaches • Breathing toxic fumes, asthma • Burns • Eye and organ damage • Cancer • Workers report reduced symptoms after switching to green products • Green does not need to cost more

  9. Air Fresheners • Having a fresh smelling office is nice, but giving everyone cancer and respiratory problems isn’t • There are many, many natural alternatives • There are four basic ingredients in air fresheners: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p- dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants

  10. Cleaning • Choose GreenSeal or EcoLogo Products for indoor cleaning. • Better yet, make your own green cleaners! • Supply microfiber wipes and mops when possible. • Use HEPA filtration vacuums.

  11. Painting and sealing • Use only low-VOC paints in the interior (<100g/L) • Use Kilz Latex Primer instead of Kilz Original • Make sure that any contractors on your property are aware that they should be using low-VOC products

  12. Flooring • GreenLabel Plus Carpet or Florescore resilient flooring products • Check for VOC content in adhesives used for flooring. • Smooth and cleanable flooring. • Entryway mats /grates are important to capture dust and contaminants.

  13. Biological contaminants

  14. Risks of living in a damp home Source: National Academy of Sciences (2004)

  15. Controlling moisture: Identify 6 Moisture Sources For This building

  16. Cooking, L e a k s Bathing, ( l i q u i d ) Watering Plants, Breathing, Washing (water vapor) S u r f a c e w a t e r ( l i q u i d ) A i r F r o m S o i l ( w a t e r v a p o r ) G r o u n d w a t e r ( l i q u i d ) Places Where Water Enters a building

  17. Moisture Sources • Poorly managed rainwater/groundwater • Poor roof, wall, window and foundation drainage • Defects in rain barriers • Plumbing leaks • Condensation on surface • Surfaces chilled by mechanical equipment, earth contact, outdoor air contact • Construction moisture • Concrete, wet spray cellulose, gypsum mud • Damp earth in crawlspace • How do we identify and respond to moisture, ventilation, and pest problems?

  18. Moisture Prevention Strategies • Ensure regular inspections of exterior grounds, common spaces, and apartments • Encourage tenants to report leaks and use bath and kitchen fans to reduce humidity and moisture (15 min. recommended for bath fans) • Any time property staff is in a unit do a quick check for moisture problems

  19. Dealing with mold • Fix the moisture problem first! • Small areas of mold can be dealt with by management staff • Vacuum (HEPA vacuum); clean with detergent • Follow established guidelines

  20. Ventilation Testing for CO Dryer vented inside • Fans reduce moisture in: • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Venting helps removes VOCs from indoor air • Venting reduces carbon monoxide from: • Boilers/furnaces • Hot water heaters (gas) • Fire places & wood stoves

  21. Without a Bath Fan We Can Get Mold

  22. Use Energy Star Bath Fans & Timers • Uses minimal amount of energy • Newer, more efficient models are much quieter than older fans • Can be set to run for a short time every time someone turns on a light

  23. Does Kitchen Fan Work & Exhaust Outside? Kitchen fan appears to exhaust outside. Check outside for exhaust grille. Kitchen vents ducts have 90 bends and long runs. Duct layout decreases fan effectiveness

  24. Use Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) 8 filters. Higher is better The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the particle filtered Many companies make health claims about their filters, only trust claims backed up by a third party certification Higher Efficiency Filters For HVAC

  25. Examples of IAQ problems

  26. How can we help you? • Do personalized office and home audits checking for IAQ problems • Educate staff and residents about IAQ issues • Develop a custom set of green cleaners that meets the unique needs of your property • Research low VOC and less toxic alternatives to products you are currently using

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