The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE) will use the three-year grant to write the Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Design Guide for Non-Residential Buildings. The guide will help professionals implement high-performance designs, improve IAQ, increase energy efficiency, and decrease the environmental impact of exposure to toxic materials in a broad range of non-residential buildings.
The grant is part of about $4 million the EPA awarded to improve IAQ. ASHRAE will collaborate with the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects and other organizations to address indoor air quality.
"Through the guide and an associated education effort, ASHRAE will improve the long-term environmental health for building occupants by reducing their exposure to air toxics and increased productivity due to greater comfort and health of building occupants," says Terry Townsend, P.E., ASHRAE's president. "The project addresses the EPA's priority areas of indoor air pollutants, which include asthma triggers, such as dust mites, pests, mold and air toxics."
Adds Eric Werling, EPA project officer, "We are thrilled to be working with ASHRAE on the Advanced IAQ Design Guide. This guide will fill a critical information need for the building industry, and ASHRAE has the experience and reputation to deliver a top-notch project."
The guide will facilitate the design process so planners and managers can use the advanced practices within the constraints of typical construction and design fees. ASHRAE expects to publish it in late 2008, with an ASHRAE professional development seminar based on the guide available in late 2009.
