IAQ stands for Indoor Air Quality. "What does a 'designer' know about indoor air quality?" You ask. Green designers, like myself, learn about indoor air quality so that we can help home or business owners select materials, finishes such as paints and stains, flooring, lighting, fabrics, furniture, appliances, and window treatments that make your home a beautiful and healthier place to live and work. Designers can also work with other professional trades people to discuss the need for natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation (fans to remove moisture and reduce mold growth) and reduce infiltration -- all of which can also affect the air quality in your home or office.
Interior designers that specialize in "green design" research products, materials and furnishings carefully before specifying them for a home or office. Green designers consider ventilation, air movement, off-gassing* and other potential irritants that many contractors and builders may not.
Since the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, indoor air quality can impact the environment and cause unhealthy conditions. The indoor air quality of your home or office can be affected by nearly everything within that closed environment. Pollutants that degrade the air quality can include tobacco, air-freshners, cleaning products, mold, wood burning fireplaces, cabinetry or furniture made from particle board (pressed wood), synthetic carpets, laminate flooring made with formaldehyde, upholstered furniture, paints and vinyl (PVC) shower curtains, just to name a few.
So whether you are remodeling an entire room or wing of your home or just buying a piece of furniture, carefully consider the selection of materials that you are bringing into your home. Help make your home a healthier place to live.
May is Asthma Awareness Month. For more information check out the following EPA site -
IAQ.
