
保持良好的室内空气质量(IAQ) requires us to manage a wide range of contaminants. The list runs well into the hundreds and includes radon, mold spores,volatile organic compounds (VOCs),carbon dioxide和化石燃料燃烧的副产品。可ep these pollutants at acceptable levels we rely on four fundamental strategies: source control, ventilation, dehumidification, and filtration. Together, these form a versatile toolkit that can address most IAQ problems. I plan to explore these strategies in depth in future posts; for now, I’ll introduce each and discuss the role they can play in the management of formaldehyde, a VOC of particular concern.
Source control
Source control needs to be the starting point for every IAQ effort. The fewer pollutants that enter the living space, the less mechanical energy required to remove them. Source-control measures include physical barriers (e.g., crawlspace liners to exclude radon and soil moisture), material choices (low-VOC cabinetry and finishes), and equipment selection (electric induction rather than natural gas cookstoves). It may involve controlling house pressures to avoid drawing in contaminated air from spaces like garages. Occupant behavior and household product choices are also important for source control.
Ventilation
Mechanical ventilation, the second piece of a comprehensive strategy, involves diluting indoor air with outdoor air to reduce pollutant levels. One of the most common ventilation strategies is “exhaust-only”—a bath fan is set to run continuously or on a schedule, and outdoor air enters the house passively through gaps and cracks. More sophisticated systems—including heat-recovery ventilators (HRVs), energy-recovery ventilators (ERVs), and ventilating dehumidifiers—provide better control of the incoming air; they also allow it to be treated (filtered, tempered, and dehumidified) before it enters the living space. With these systems, the house remains at a neutral or slightly positive pressure, allowing better source control. For pollutants emitted by…
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