Tag: indoor air quality

  • Will More Ventilation Keep Students from Missing School?

    Subtitle:  A new scientific study recommends doubling ventilation rates — but what assumptions did the researchers make? Images:  A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) makes a bold claim that increasing ventilation rates can cut the number of student absences related to illness.

  • Five Ways to Deal with Crawl Space Air

    Subtitle:  The air in a crawl space can have a huge impact on a home’s durability and indoor environmental quality Images:  If you have a home with a crawl space — or are building or buying one — you have several options on what to do with that particular foundation type. Most crawl spaces are…

  • A Stupid — and Illegal — Way to Air Condition Your Garage

    Subtitle:  Although popular in Texas, this method of garage cooling can hurt air quality inside your home Images:  …

  • ASHRAE 62.2 Committee Chair Defends Ventilation Standard

    Subtitle:  Paul Francisco says there are good reasons not to lower ventilation rates, and that exhaust ventilation isn’t necessarily worse than supply or balanced ventilation Images:  The great ventilation debate of 2013 roars on. Last month, I wrote about Building Science Corporation’s residential ventilation standard for new homes, to be released officially at Building Science…

  • A Ventless Gas Fireplace Doesn’t Belong in Your Home

    Subtitle:  Combustion products need to be vented to the outside Images:  First of all, let’s call it what it really is. The industry likes the term “vent-free” when talking about gas fireplaces that keep all the exhaust gases in your home. I prefer the term “ventless” or, even better, “unvented.” Some people suggest “room-vented” or…