IAQ and Climate Readiness

Resources

To help you counteract the impact of climate change on indoor air quality, the following websites and documents ares presented to assist you in learning how to prevent and act on indoor air quality problems:

• Ask your builder about Indoor airPLUS when you buy or build a new home. Indoor airPLUS qualified homes can help in protecting your family from health problems caused by indoor air pollutants, and they can be more comfortable and energy-efficient living spaces.
   
• Get key tips for improving and maintaining ventilation in your home. If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can sometimes accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems.
   
• Find more information about the risks of poor indoor air quality and how to improve it, visit EPA's Indoor Air Quality Web site and read The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.
   
• Learn more about climate change, factors that contribute to climate change and what you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You also can visit the U.S. Department of Energy for additional information on greenhouse gases, climate change, and energy.
   
• Weatherizing (sealing and insulating) — including installing storm windows, weather stripping, caulking and insulating — can help you save energy on heating and cooling, but can reduce ventilation. Get tips on sealing and insulating from the ENERGY STAR Home Improvement Web site and information on maintaining ventilation from The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.
   
• Learn more about how mold and moisture can affect your home and what to do about it, and how to control pest problems without sacrificing IAQ.
   
• EPA's Climate Change Site offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments.
   
• Read the brochure, Frequently Asked Questions About Global Warming and Climate Change: Back to Basics (PDF) (8 pp., 1.6 M, about PDF), which provides illustrated answers to frequent questions.