Energy Efficiency Experts

Indoor air quality or IAQ is an important component of building science. Our indoor air quality is often worse than what we breathe outside.  Indoor air quality can be improved. The general rule of the thumb is dilution is the solution to air pollution.

One way to dilute the pollutants is to block them through envelope sealing especially from the ceiling area. We can limit the amount of pollution coming into our conditioned space by tightening our envelope. As with every measure with the house as a system approach we have to explore our remedy and determine if it might cause a problem.
By tightening our envelope we can make that air stagnate, trap dangerous  and potentially deadly gases and raise humidity levels to the point that might breed mold. This is not our intention to solve one problem and create another.

The best way to find out if your home is too tight is a blower door test
There air new fresh air re circulation devices with merv filter that bring fresh air in and exhaust air out.
In Building Science we often re apply energy and use it better. Asking someone to buy a new system seems counterintuitive to saving energy. But we take the system as a whole approach.  We are concerned about health safety and energy efficiency.

A study in referenced in an ASHRAE article* quoted below
“Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency on human exposure to air pollutants show that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times, sometimes more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. People in buildings frequently report discomfort and building-related health symptoms, and sometimes develop building-related illnesses. “
*http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/2697
That is a very powerful statement. ASHRAE has developed standard 62.2 for fresh air ventilation in buildings based on their findings of IAQ problems which is nationally recognized.

The EPA now has a new designation with an Energy Star like label for indoor Air Quality called Indoor Air Plus    http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/