Indoor airPLUS®
Providence Homes is proud to be in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor airPLUS® Program. Through this partnership, we are committed to offering ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS® certified homes that provide homeowners with energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
To earn the ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS® labels, a home must meet a set of strict guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing poor indoor air quality. Homes with ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS® certifications offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus moisture control, radon control, pest barriers, improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, combustion pollutant control, low emission materials and third party verification.
Indoor airPLUS® has these advantages:
Moisture Control
-Moisture leads to mold and other biological pollutants that can cause health problems.
-With ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS®, builders use a variety of moisture control features designed to minimize these risks, including improved control of condensation and better roof, wall and foundation drainage.
Radon Control
-Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive, invisible, and odorless gas and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
-Indoor airPLUS® specifications include radon-resistant construction techniques (in areas with high radon potential).
Pest Management
-Residue from pests, such as rodents and cockroaches, can trigger allergy and asthma attacks.
-With ENERGY STAR® and Indoor airPLUS®, builders seal, caulk or screen where pests may enter a home.
Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
-Poorly designed and installed HVAC systems can lead to comfort problems and reduce indoor air quality.
-ENERGY STAR® with Indoor airPLUS® includes properly engineered systems, improved duct and equipment installation, improved filtration, and whole-house and spot ventilation to dilute and remove indoor air pollutants.
-Builders also inspect air-handling equipment and ductwork to ensure they are clean and free of debris and provide adequate air flow.
Building Materials
-The types of materials that builders choose and the way they manage them during construction can improve a home’s indoor air quality.
-Indoor airPLUS® Specifications reduce the sources of pollutants inside the home by protecting materials stored on-site from weather damage, using materials with less chemicals, and ventilating the home prior to move-in.
Homeowner Education
-Educating homeowners on maintaining their Indoor airPLUS® homes is key to good indoor air quality.
-Indoor airPLUS® homeowners receive a checklist of verified indoor air quality features, and instructions for operating and maintaining equipment to continue minimizing risks of indoor air quality problems.
Only ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes are eligible to earn the Indoor airPLUS® label.
To learn more about what goes into your new home visit www.epa.gov/indoorairplus