Indoor Air Quality Carpet Using low-pile or less allergen-attracting carpet and pad can greatly improve indoor air quality. Installing carpeting by tacking rather than using glue also reduces air pollutants. There are also natural fiber carpets available such as jute, sisal and wool that many builders offer to improve air quality. Many Stearns Custom Homes feature plans that reduce the amount of carpeting and use alternate flooring made from sustainably harvested wood or bamboo. Paints Many Stearns Custom Homes use low-VOC and low-toxic interior paints and finishes to reduce toxins ordinarily associated with other paints. Using these types of paints helps to improve the overall indoor air quality of the home. Ventilation Greater air tightness creates a need for mechanical ventilation to avoid potential indoor air quality problems. Balanced or slightly positive ventilation keeps outdoor pollutants from being drawn into the house, prevents backdrafting or spillage from combustion appliances (due to under-pressurization), and prevents moisture migration into structural cavities (due to over-pressurization). Ventilation can be provided by quiet fans with automatic controls or by heat recovery ventilators. In a balanced system, air brought indoors by one fan is exhausted outdoors at the same rate by another fan. In a slightly positive system, air brought indoors is exhausted outdoors at a slightly slower rate. It is important to avoid over-pressurizing the building, which will force moisture into and through walls and other structural cavities. To get a slightly positive air pressure you must adjust supply ventilation slightly higher than exhaust ventilation (if exhaust is provided). If you are not sure you can maintain a slightly positive pressure without over-pressurizing the building, it is best to seek a balanced pressurization. |
