Ideal Temperature
Here’s another IAQA Tech Tip video on the ideal temperature.
For a direct link to the video, use this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munKVtxqpOs&hd=1
Here’s another IAQA Tech Tip video on the ideal temperature.
For a direct link to the video, use this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munKVtxqpOs&hd=1
In my not-so-new role as Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Technical Director, I am developing some educational videos. The videos are posted on YouTube and are freely available to everyone, not just IAQA members.
As these videos come out, I will provide a link here on my blog. Enjoy!
If you’re looking for more information on indoor air quality, check out the 50 classes I developed for the IAQA:
Do people, especially children, get sick in damp buildings? Is it because of the mold? Or is it the bacteria, insects and rodents attracted to the moisture causing the problems? Or is it a combination of these exposures having a negative synergistic effect?
Although the answers to these questions are not well understood, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) just released a 2-page statement to clarify some issues.
To the question, “Do people get sick in damp buildings?” here is what the statement says…
CDPH has concluded that the presence of water damage, dampness, visible mold, or mold odorin schools, workplaces, residences, and other indoor environments is unhealthy.
We recommend against measuring indoor microorganisms or using the presence of specific microorganisms to determine the level of health hazard or the need for urgent remediation.
The concentrations of IAQ contaminants almost always fluctuate over time. Therefore is it best to log data over time, whenever possible. Technology, and more importantly, budget constraints may prevent us from logging data over time. That means we must show up on a given day and measure that point in time. This method gives us a random reading from a normal day.The trend continues to make buildings more energy efficient, which I support 100%. All commercial building codes require these high performing buildings to ventilate. The problem is residential building codes, that rarely require mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation typically uses the HVAC system or supplemental fan to bring in outdoor air. This is in contrast to natural ventilation that comes in through an open window, and infiltration that comes in through a closed window.
Although homes are being built more for greater energy efficiency, mechanical ventilation is only required in five states that I know of. These include Washington, Minnesota, California, Vermont and Maine.
My state of Illinois doesn’t require mechanical ventilation in homes. New efficient homes don’t have the means (other than opening windows), to air out the VOCs from new construction. Until mechanical ventilation gets adopted into building code, I will remain busy dealing with indoor air quality issues that are totally preventable.
Homes can be both energy efficient and well ventilated. I would like to see more homes installing mechanical ventilation, but I’m afraid that won’t happen until codes force people to have improved IAQ.
Does your state require residential mechanical ventilation? Have you seen similar problems in your area? Please make a comment on my blog!
I have some exciting news to share. I have just been appointed as the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Technical Director. This is a brand new position that was created by the association’s Board of Directors to coordinate the technical committees and contribute to publications, among other activities. The most important responsibility of this new position is to oversee the launching of IAQA University.
The IAQA University will have classes for everyone: those wanting to learn a little about indoor air quality all the way up to industry professionals seeking continuing education credits. Classes will predominately be online, but it is anticipated they will also be taught through the IAQA local chapters and perhaps as a pre-conference program before the annual meeting.
The IAQA University will go live in early summer. It will initially be seeded with 50 short classes one-hour in length on a wide range of topics. These classes will be at the ”100-level,” with future plans to expand the breadth and depth of offerings. As time goes on, more 100 level classes will be added as well as 200 and 300 level classes. I will be contributing a lot of content, but subject matter experts will also be tapped for higher level classes.
So what’s going to happen to this blog? I will serving as Technical Director with half of my time. In the other half I will still contribute to this blog, consult in the Chicagoland area, and educate the world about indoor air quality. My blog posts may come out less frequently, but I’m committed to sharing great information with my readers.