November 3, 2006—ASHRAE has received a $510,000 grant from the US 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 three-year grant will be used to write the Advanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Design Guide for Non-Residential Buildings, which will help professionals implement high performance designs, improve indoor air quality 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 some $4 million awarded by EPA to improve indoor air quality. ASHRAE will collaborate with the US Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects and other organizations that address indoor air quality.
The guide will facilitate the design process so that advanced practice can be accomplished within the constraints of typical construction and design fees.
It is expected to be published in late 2008, with an ASHRAE Professional Development Seminar based on the guide available in late 2009. For more information, visit the ASHRAE Web site.
