We know that supporting human health involves a lot of factors—and since we spend about 90% of our time indoors even in ordinary circumstances, having spaces with good indoor air quality is a major one. Now that we are all inside even more than usual, to comply with social distancing, there will be additional interest in understanding how spaces support people.

At USGBC, human health priorities are integral to our mission. To help project teams integrate these values into their work, we've outlined existing resources to help you educate yourself on indoor air quality: what it involves and how building design and construction decisions can support it, as well as what steps you can take in your own home.

LEED

In LEED v4.1, the indoor environmental quality, or EQ, credit category covers several strategies that promote occupant health. They range from external and internal filtration to green cleaning plans. Explore the full suite of EQ credits in LEED.

Revisions to the credits from LEED v4 to LEED v4.1 have incorporated new filtering standards and product category flexibility. View the Building Design and Construction rating system with changes tracked.

Advocacy

The goal driving our social equity initiatives and our Living Standard campaign is access for every person to a healthy, safe, sustainable environment and way of life. LEED projects can protect and improve the health of people across the globe through macro-level strategies, and they can also boost the health of the occupants within those spaces through building-level strategies focused on air quality, nontoxic materials, ventilation, lighting and thermal comfort.

Read our policy brief on how green building supports U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 3 of universal good health and well-being.

USGBC+

USGBC+, the print and digital magazine of USGBC, presents in-depth articles on how our members and partners drive green building forward in ways that promote human health.

Advancing Healthy Interiors with LEED v4.1, Spring 2019
Designing for Human Health Is the Next Frontier in Sustainable Building, Spring 2018

Education

USGBC offers plenty of ways to educate yourself on the importance of indoor air quality.

Ask the experts

Earn CE credits at one of our upcoming LEED v4.1 Ask the Experts sessions.

On June 2, we'll focus on Materials and Resources at 8 a.m. EST and 1 p.m. EST.
On June 16, come learn about Healthcare at 8 a.m. EST and 1 p.m. EST.

Green Home Guide

Our website for homeowners and renters, Green Home Guide, regularly shares tips on indoor environmental quality that you can implement in your own living space.

Learn more about how USGBC prioritizes indoor air quality

Resources roundup: Indoor environmental quality