LEEDv4 IAQ Testing – New Credit Highlights for IEQ

LEEDv4 IAQ Testing Requirements Industrial hygienists across the US have been watching the USGBC as they’ve updated the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing Credit for Post-Construction. LEEDv4 IAQ Testing requirements have changed since LEEDv2009. Many health and healthy building advocates hoped they would lower the allowable levels of formaldehyde, but due to industry uproar that did
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Design as Therapy – A New Approach

Design as Therapy In the world of building we have control over what comes into contact with our senses. What we see, hear, smell & feel can all be addressed during the design of a building. For the most part these sensory cues are perceived subconsciously and exist in the background. But there are instances
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Energy Efficient Building For Facility Managers

BECx provides Energy Efficient Building and Savings For Facility Managers Building Enclosure (or Envelope) Commissioning (BECx for short) originated in Canada in the 80’s and came to the US in the 90’s. The General Services Administration and the US Army were amongst the early adopters. They started commissioning enclosures on their building projects in 2006. Since
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What do Building Enclosure Commissioning Agents do?

So What Exactly does an Enclosure Commissioning Agent (BECxA) do? Understandably, there is a lot of confusion in the design and construction industry about the role of building enclosure commissioning agents (BECxA). Owners and architects do not know what a BECxA does during design and construction and how (or if) this discipline adds value to
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Airtight Construction for Laboratories

Effects of Airtight Construction on Lab Pressurization Most labs and clean rooms require airtight construction to create differential pressure with respect to adjoining spaces. Labs are usually maintained at slightly negative pressure to keep the chemicals used in the labs from migrating to adjacent spaces. Clean rooms, on the other hand, have to be kept
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Air Filters for Allergies

Which Portable Air Filters for Allergies are Right for Me? Are you suffering from allergies?  Did you recently remodel your home and are bothered by noxious odors? Wondering which air filters for allergies are right for your home or office? Maybe you want to take preventative action against possible indoor airborne pollutants in the form
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Lighting and Circadian Rhythm Affect Health and Productivity

IEQ  – Lighting and Circadian Rhythm Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is affected by many different factors. How light affects our health is in its nascent stages of being explored. Nevertheless, there exists enough evidence to know that artificial lighting can be a boon to one’s daily activities or can be detrimental to one’s health. Lighting and circadian
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San Francisco Green Building – The Exploratorium

San Francisco Green Building – Exploratorium Case Study Being an environmental inspector at Healthy Building Science it’s not surprising that I have an interest in buildings, science and the environment. As I watched the sunrise from the rooftop of the Exploratorium during one of my moonlighting shifts as an Exploratorium special events technician, it’s no
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Water Conservation

Water Conservation Practices and Options California is Still in a drought and conservation is still needed. Read on for water conservation tips. El Nino has come and gone, even though he gave us a good dose of exactly what our state needed, we will continue to need water conservation measures to preserve our precious water
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What are Sustainable Construction Documents?

What are Sustainable Construction Documents? Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Sustainable Construction Documents, but were afraid to ask. An Architects Explains Sustainable Construction Documents From time to time I find myself explaining the process and make up of sustainable construction documents to various people. So it recently occurred to me that it would
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