Page 27 - GB Building Science Ebook 2019

Flame out. Ever more
frequent wildfires have
contributed to air pollution
woes in many states.

THE POLLUTION VARIABLE
As homes approach zero energy, there’s no room for error in terms
of ventilation. Poorly planned new homes, along with older homes
too often suffer from high levels of indoor air pollution. Not all of
this quandary can be blamed on builders and HVAC contractors
however. The way a home is used has a major impact on indoor air
quality (IAQ). For example, research shows that less than 10 percent
of people turn on their range hood when they cook, despite the fact
that cooking creates high levels of toxic airborne particulates.
Add to this indoor problem the worsening threat of air pollution
outdoors, particularly around urban areas, and you can see why
childhood asthma is spiking throughout the U.S. The combination of
lives spent indoors, bad habits, and weakened regulation of outdoor
pollution have raised the risk of serious illness.
As awareness of this problem spreads, use of whole house filters
and air purifiers is on the rise. Combined with mechanical ventilation,
some filters can address both industrial and household pollutants,
but only with the right filter medium. Many of the most dangerous
pollutants are very small particles, less than 2.5 micrometers. Whole-House Solution. Carrier’s
One challenge for whole-house air filtration is the reduction Infinity whole-house air purifier
in airflow caused by filters that are more restrictive. The way to includes a MERV 15 filter, which can
minimize this impact is to use filters that have the most possible remove even the small particulates
surface space. Be sure to inquire about a system’s airflow resistance from outdoor industrial sources. It
when comparing brands. GB also boasts low air resistance.

BUILDING SCIENCE SPECIAL REPORT: SIX WAYS CONSTRUCTION IS CHANGING 27