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Indoor Air Quality in Sustainable, Energy Efficient Buildings

Published

Author(s)

Andrew K. Persily, Steven J. Emmerich

Abstract

Building designers, contractors, owners and managers have long been challenged with providing quality indoor environments at a reasonable energy cost. Current efforts to improve building energy efficiency, including goals of sustainability and net-zero energy use, are bringing more focus on how to simultaneously achieve energy efficiency and good indoor air quality (IAQ). While energy efficiency and IAQ are sometimes viewed as incompatible, there are in fact many strategies than can achieve both ends. This paper discusses the relationship between IAQ and energy efficiency, with outdoor air ventilation being the primary connection. A number of strategies that are currently being used or proposed to provide both improved IAQ and energy efficiency are highlighted including increased envelope airtightness, heat recovery ventilation, demand controlled ventilation, and improved system maintenance. In addition, the manner in which various green and sustainable building programs, standards and guidance documents address IAQ is reviewed. These programs and documents are driving the move towards sustainable buildings, and the manner in which they consider IAQ is critical to achieving energy efficient buildings with good indoor environments.
Citation
Hvac&R Research
Volume
18
Issue
1-2

Keywords

Building design, green buildings, energy efficiency indoor air quality, standards, sustainable buildings, ventilation

Citation

Persily, A. and Emmerich, S. (2012), Indoor Air Quality in Sustainable, Energy Efficient Buildings, Hvac&R Research, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=908145 (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created May 15, 2012, Updated February 19, 2017