This white paper is a collaboration between:

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Abstract

Clean First to Achieve Sustainable IAQ

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) with optimized ventilation and air cleaning need not conflict with building decarbonization and climate resilience goals. This paper shows how this is possible by introducing a four-step “Clean First” framework to achieve Sustainable IAQ: better indoor air quality more energy efficiently with improved resilience to outside air pollutants. This paper also offers recommendations for implementing the Clean First framework. 

The Clean First framework is based on the concept of equivalent air changes and extends the layered strategies approach developed by ASHRAE for the COVID-19 pandemic to also address particulate matter and gaseous contaminants found in commercial buildings. By deploying layered air cleaning, filtration, and ventilation strategies and integrating continuous IAQ monitoring and dynamic building controls to ensure IAQ targets are maintained with maximum efficiency, building owners can simultaneously and cost effectively achieve IAQ, decarbonization, and climate resiliency goals.  

This layered, system-level Clean First approach is the key to the low-energy, high-IAQ, climate resilient buildings of the future. 

Read the full white paper now.

 

Click here to read the PSD/enVerid study on the carbon reduction potential of ASHRAE’s IAQ Procedure referenced in the September, 2023 ASHRAE Journal article Why Equivalent Clean Airflow Doesn’t Have To Be Expensive.

“To create high-IAQ, low-energy, climate resilient buildings for the future, we need to embrace alternatives to outside air ventilation to maintain healthy indoor environments. Building on key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic about layered air cleaning strategies, the Clean First framework presented in this paper lays out a well-constructed, system-level approach to achieve Sustainable IAQ. I encourage designers and engineers to read the paper and consider incorporating its recommendations into future projects.”

William P. Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow/Presidential Member ASHRAE, The Pennsylvania State University 

Summary of Recommendations

Step 1: Define IAQ Goals

  1. Define IAQ goals for PM2.5, ozone, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde that meet or exceed the “acceptable IAQ” design limits provided in Addendum aa to ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2019.
  2. To reduce the risk of airborne transmissions of viruses, also set a target of 6 equivalent air changes per hour (eACH).
  3. Do not rely on CO2 as the main indicator of good IAQ.

Step 2: Clean Indoor Air

  1. For particle and pathogen filtration, deploy MERV 13 filters in HVAC systems.
  2. For gaseous contaminants, use sorbent filters that address the full range of contaminants defined by ASHRAE Standard 62.1.
  3. Add in-room HEPA filters or germicidal ultraviolet light during pandemics for added risk reduction in high-risk areas and any space where the base HVAC system cannot deliver 6 eACH.

Step 3: Optimize Ventilation

  1. Combine layered air cleaning technologies with optimized ventilation rates using ASHRAE’s IAQ Procedure to achieve IAQ targets energy efficiently and cost effectively.
  2. Add high efficiency energy recovery for optimized ventilation to further improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
  3. Combine air cleaning with optimized ventilation rates to enable all-electric designs utilizing smaller energy recovery and heat pump systems that perform better in colder climates.

Step 4: Validate, Monitor & Control IAQ

  1. Use continuous monitoring with third-party validated sensors to track CO2, PM2.5, TVOCs, and ozone and conduct point-in-time testing for formaldehyde and carbon monoxide twice a year.
  2. Use aerosol tracers to test the combined effectiveness of ventilation and filtration systems for airborne pathogens.
  3. Integrate IAQ sensor data with building management systems and automate the optimization of air cleaning and ventilation for IAQ, efficiency, occupant comfort, and resiliency.

The following reviewers provided constructive comments and suggestions for this white paper. Their independent input is not an endorsement of products offered by the collaborators or any products mentioned in this paper.

Joseph Aamidor (Aamidor Consulting), Barry Abramson (Servidyne), Dr. William Bahnfleth (The Pennsylvania State University), Phoebe Beierle (USGBC), James Dice (Nexus Labs), Tim Dorman (Havtech), Cory Duggin (TLC Engineering Solutions), David Ellowitz (AHA Consulting Engineers), Anthony M. Montalto (JB&B), Larissa Oaks (USGBC), Dr. Amanda Rischbieth (Amanda Rischbieth Advisory), Jared Rodriguez (Emergent Urban Concepts), Jay Stein (E Source), Brice Watson (CMTA), and Dr. Marwa Zaatari (DZine Partners)

“Christian and his team just published a new whitepaper on Sustainable Indoor Air Quality and it’s really great. I’m serious guys—I learned a lot from it and love how much knowledge from the pandemic is condensed into it and I think the way they took a stand and made actual recommendations amid all the IAQ confusion is really helpful to the industry.”

James Dice, PE, CEM, Founder, Nexus Labs