Characterizing Indoor Air- Quality Performance Using a Graphical Approach

Published

March 8, 2016

Author(s)

Kevin Y. Teichman, Cynthia H. Reed, Steven J. Emmerich

Abstract

In this paper, we describe and demonstrate a graphical approach to illustrating the indoor air quality (IAQ) performance of high-performing buildings. We start by describing previous efforts to establish IAQ and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) metrics, and then demonstrate a graphical approach to evaluating IAQ performance. This approach presents measured levels of indoor pollutants relative to health-based guideline values or some other appropriate reference. Drawing upon both simulated and measured data, we extend this approach to graphically represent building performance with respect to four key attributes: IEQ, energy use, water consumption, and waste generation. Special attention is given to indoor concentrations of potential concern, on-site energy generation, water reuse, and the reduction of waste generated during construction. This approach, if developed further and eventually standardized, would enable building designers, owners, operators, and occupants to evaluate the performance of a building both as designed and as operated, as well as to make comparisons among buildings, for the four building parameters.

Citation

Technical Note (NIST TN) - 1868

Report Number

1868

Volume

1868

NIST Pub Series

Technical Note (NIST TN)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1868

Keywords

indoor air quality, indoor air quality metric, indoor environment, indoor environmental metric, high performance buildings

Citation

Teichman, K. , Reed, C. and Emmerich, S. (2016), Characterizing Indoor Air- Quality Performance Using a Graphical Approach, Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.1868 (Accessed April 24, 2026)

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