The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), along with other key organizations, has announced it will develop a design guide for improving indoor air quality (IAQ).

The guide will describe an integrated process for achieving improved IAQ in all elements of a building. USGBC will collaborate with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) on this endeavor. 

The design guide will consist of a textbook and a professional development course, which will be designed for the building and design community. Upon its completion, these tools will function as a prescriptive compliance path for indoor air quality. The tools will assist building professionals in implementing high-performance designs and improving IAQ performance in buildings. ​

Bill O'Leary | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesSmoke, fungal spores, and chemicals used in certain paints, varnishes and cleaners have been shown to be harmful to human health, and yet indoor air quality is not as well understood as pollution outdoors, according to a study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. 

​www.cnbc.com/2016/04/22/indoor-air-can-be-deadlier-than-outdoor-air-research-shows.html