Some experts believe that more people may suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor air pollution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the majority of Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors. What can contractors do to help?

IAQ has been identified by the EPA as one of the five most urgent environmental risks to public health. Many factors affect IAQ. These factors include poor ventilation, problems controlling temperature, high or low humidity, remodeling, and other activities in or near a building that can affect the fresh air coming into the building.

Here are some useful products contractors are using to improve indoor environmental quality.

As more homeowners begin to understand that controlling humidity is crucial to comfort, interest in humidification and dehumidification solutions has continued to grow. Rick Tullis, president, Capstone Mechanical, said contractors should be aware of the factors that limit mold’s ability to multiply throughout an indoor environment.

With increasing numbers of customers making green and energy-efficient decisions, it’s becoming even more important for HVAC contractors to pay attention to their customers’ air quality. “Adequate fresh air should be an equal priority to energy savings,” said Allen Rathey, president of the Healthy House Institute (HHI).

Aldrich Hall is a 102,825-square-foot classroom serving the Harvard Business School’s MBA program. The building, originally built in 1955, recently completed a three-phase gut renovation. What did it entail?

The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) has announced the recipients of its 2012 Clean Air Award. To achieve the award, building owners and facility managers must increase the level of indoor air cleanliness with filtration and improve system hygiene in 10 categories.

A look at VRFs.

The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) announced the recipients of its 2012 Clean Air Award. To achieve the award, building owners and facility managers must increase the level of indoor air cleanliness with filtration and improve system hygiene.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will provide a combined $1.2 million in funding to 32 state and local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for indoor air quality projects.