In the ongoing push for healthier buildings and more sustainable operations, the Indoor Air Quality Procedure (IAQP) is emerging as a powerful tool for HVAC designers, building owners, and sustainability consultants. IAQP offers an alternative to traditional ventilation strategies that not only helps achieve net zero and decarbonization goals, but also ensures high indoor air quality in a way that’s energy-efficient and resilient.
Why Ventilation Is a Challenge for Sustainable Design
Ventilation is essential for maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ), but it comes with a hefty energy cost. HVAC systems can represent up to 40% of a building’s total energy use, and ventilation alone can account for nearly 40% of that HVAC load. Traditionally, buildings rely on a prescriptive approach – bringing in large volumes of outdoor air to dilute indoor contaminants. But as buildings aim to lower energy consumption and carbon emissions, this strategy becomes increasingly unsustainable.
Introducing IAQP: A Smarter Approach to Ventilation
The Indoor Air Quality Procedure offers a performance-based alternative to the conventional ventilation rate procedure (VRP). Instead of relying solely on outdoor air to maintain IAQ, IAQP allows buildings to use a mix of outdoor air and air cleaning technologies. This hybrid approach – what’s been dubbed a “Clean First” framework – prioritizes air purification over dilution.
The Clean First Framework
- Set Targets: Establish contaminant limits based on ASHRAE 62.1, WELL, LEED, or other standards.
- Incorporate Air Cleaning: Introduce air cleaning technologies to reduce indoor pollutant levels.
- Apply IAQP: Calculate the optimal balance between outdoor air and air cleaning.
- Monitor and Maintain: Use IAQ monitoring to ensure performance and make informed upgrades.
IAQP in Action: Energy and IAQ Gains
One of IAQP’s most compelling benefits is its ability to reduce energy loads dramatically. In some projects, IAQP has led to a 60–70% reduction in outdoor air requirements, slashing peak heating and cooling loads and reducing operational energy use. For example, a 100,000 sq ft office building applying IAQP could reduce its ventilation rate from 10,625 CFM (with VRP) to just 3,260 CFM, without compromising air quality.
These reductions translate to:
- Lower utility bills
- Smaller HVAC equipment
- Improved indoor air quality (especially during outdoor air pollution events like wildfires)
- Additional LEED and WELL points for projects seeking certification
Want to explore IAQP on your next project?
Contact O’Dell for solutions to reduce energy use, improve indoor air quality, and design smarter HVAC systems for a low carbon future.
