Abstract:

Quality builders and remodelers provide energy-efficient homes that do a great job of keeping conditioned air in. But cooking, bathing, breathing and housecleaning introduce indoor pollutants, including additional moisture. New carpet and fresh paint give off chemicals used in their manufacture. Carbon monoxide (CO), humidity and mold, solvents and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - all of these can contribute to poor air quality. Proper ventilation controls indoor air quality by diluting pollutants and removing them from the home. Infiltration - leakage of air through the building envelope from unintended gaps in walls, roofs, windows and doors - usually provides older homes with adequate though uncontrolled ventilation. However, improvements in construction and energy-efficient designs have resulted in today's tighter buildings, which often require dedicated ventilation systems.