ATLANTA - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) received a $510,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide guidance for designing and building healthier buildings with effective operation and maintenance programs that reduce exposure to toxics and asthma/allergy triggers.

"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," said Terry Townsend, P.E., ASHRAE president.

The three-year grant will be used to write the Advanced IAQ Design Guide for Non-Residential Buildings, which will help professionals implement high performance designs, improve IAQ performance, increase energy efficiency, and decrease the environmental impact of exposure to air toxics in a broad range of non-residential buildings.

The grant is part of $4 million awarded by the EPA to improve IAQ. ASHRAE will collaborate with the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects, and other organizations that address IAQ.

"We are thrilled to be working with ASHRAE on the Advanced IAQ Design Guide," said Eric Werling, EPA project officer. "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 is expected to be published in late 2008, with an ASHRAE professional development seminar, based on the guide, following in late 2009.

Publication date: 11/06/2006