WFH Learning Bundle 16: Indoor Air Quality

SJVCEO 2020 Learning Bundle
16th Edition
October 21st, 2020

Indoor Air Quality

At the SJVCEO we’re spending a lot of time questioning what is at the intersection of energy efficiency and essential services. Where do public agencies put their focus and how can we change the thought that it must be a choice between the two? Investment in essential services and energy efficiency are not mutually exclusive, and improved building efficiency is often foundational for the systems needed to improve indoor air quality, leading to safer spaces for public use in an emergency.

In a time of generalized Armageddon in California, our indoor spaces need to minimize risk whether that be from airborne viruses or increased particulate matter from wildfires. Our public buildings, office spaces, and even homes can operationally optimize their energy performance to improve efficiencies as well as improve indoor air quality, resulting in improved safety, resiliency, and flexibility. This month in our WFH bundle we explore all the ways that’s happening, and what you can do today to improve the health and safety of your spaces.

What Others Have Done

Cen Cal 2017: VCREA Regional Resiliency- slide 20
Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance presented on their “Home Health Impacts” program where County in-home nurses have a building performance training (whole-house approach) to identify/fix comfort and EE problems at home! Click here to learn more about how EE measures can help improve IAQ. Learn from this innovative approach how your agency can replicate the concept to support our most at-risk constituents.

US EPA Energy, Weatherization and Indoor Air Quality
Weatherization and other energy efficiency upgrades can have negative impacts on occupant health and safety if not accompanied by appropriate indoor air quality — IAQ — protections. With an increase in weatherization and energy efficiency improvement activities, consideration should be given to including incentives for ensuring that energy upgrades are accompanied by appropriate IAQ actions.

Berkeley Lab: IAQ Building Energy Efficiency
To reduce future climate change it will be necessary to substantially reduce building energy consumption; thus, broad application of energy efficiency measures in buildings is expected as climate change advances! Two of the very common energy efficiencies retrofit measures for homes with a potential to affect indoor environmental quality are envelope tightening to reduce outdoor air ventilation and the addition of thermal insulation to the building envelope

PG&E Safety Action Center
Make sure you check the air quality in your neighborhood and read below for more tips!

SCE Energy Conservation: Energy Efficiency Is In the Air
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named poor air quality as one of the top five risks to public health; and HVAC performance is the most important factor in maintaining it in an indoor business setting.

SCG HVAC Systems
Proper installation of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system is crucial to having it perform well and operate cost-efficiently and help your IAQ. Improper HVAC installation can reduce the efficiency and capacity of your heating system – using more natural gas and making your system work harder than it should. To learn more about the guide, click here!

WFH Learning Bundle 16: Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality

In Recent News

SJVCEO’s BLOG EE and AQ

SJVCEO’s POD EE

What Others Have Done

Other Important Reads

In our quest to make efficient, reliable energy accessible for all Californians, we believe that information is king. And knowledge is, in fact, power.