Step up to 

Indoor airPLUS

All Indoor airPLUS qualified homes also meet strict guidelines for

energy efficiency set by ENERGY STAR, the nationally-recognized

symbol for energy efficiency.

A new opportunity for leading 

builders to create better environments

inside and out
People are increasingly concerned about mold, radon, carbon monoxide,

and toxic chemicals commonly found in homes. In fact, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) studies show that levels of air pollution inside the

home are often two to five times higher than outdoor levels. And poor indoor

air quality is associated with a host of health problems, including eye

irritation, allergies, headaches, and respiratory problems such as asthma. 

In addition, indoor air quality is having a sizable financial impact on the

home building industry. Litigation associated with mold and other indoor air

quality related concerns and the rising cost of liability coverage have cost

builders across the country billions of dollars. 

Builders can employ a variety of construction practices

and technologies to decrease the risk of poor indoor

air quality in their new homes. According to surveys,

consumers are willing to pay up to $5,000 more for 

these improvements.

EPA created Indoor airPLUS to help builders meet

the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air

quality. By constructing homes that meet EPA’s stringent specifications,

forward-thinking builders can distinguish themselves by being among the

first to offer homes designed to deliver improved indoor air quality.*

Why does indoor air quality matter?

Why design and build with 

Indoor airPLUS?

*Indoor airPLUS construction specifications are designed to help improve

indoor air quality (IAQ) in new homes compared with homes built to

minimum code. However, these features alone cannot prevent all IAQ

problems. Occupant behavior is also important for IAQ. For example,

products used in the home after occupancy and smoking inside may both

negatively impact the home’s IAQ and the performance of the specified

Indoor airPLUS features. 
Start with ENERGY STAR

A home must first be designed and

built to earn the ENERGY STAR—the

government-backed symbol for energy

efficiency. The result is a home that is

significantly more energy efficient

than a home built to minimum

code, helping reduce greenhouse

gas emissions.

Add indoor air improvements

More than 30 additional home design

and construction features are included

in the Indoor airPLUS label to help

protect qualified homes from moisture

and mold, pests, combustion gases,

and other airborne pollutants. Some

builders already include many of

these features in their homes. 

Complete the package with

independent testing and

verification

The home’s energy performance and

key features of the Indoor airPLUS

label are inspected by an independent

third-party to ensure compliance with

EPA’s rigorous guidelines and

specifications.

How do homes earn the

Indoor airPLUS label?
What distinguishes new homes with

Indoor airPLUS?

With Indoor airPlus, EPA is challenging builders to step up to a new level

of excellence by building homes with professional best practices,

including the following design and construction features:

Moisture Control: Build in added protection from mold and other 

moisture problems with water managed roofs, walls, and foundations.

Features include continuous drainage planes, proper flashing and air

sealing, damp-proof foundation walls, capillary breaks, drain tile, and

proper grading.

Radon Control: Provide radon-resistant construction in high radon

potential areas, including gravel and plastic sheeting below slabs, fully

sealed and caulked foundation penetrations, plastic vent pipe running

from below slab through the roof, and an attic receptacle for easily adding

an electric powered fan to the vent pipe if needed.

Pest Management: Provide a first-line defense against pest problems by

fully sealing, caulking, or screening likely pest entry points. When these

physical barriers are combined with proper pest management techniques,

pesticide use may be reduced.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC): Improve indoor air

quality with best practice design and installation of ducts and equipment

to minimize condensation problems, whole-house and spot ventilation to

help dilute and exhaust indoor pollutants, and air filtration to remove

airborne particulates. 

Combustion Venting: Protect residents from potential exposure to

combustion gases by installing direct-vented or power-vented gas- and 

oil-fired equipment, properly vented fireplaces, garages fully sealed from

living spaces and equipped with an exhaust fan, and carbon monoxide

alarms in each sleeping area.

Building Materials: Reduce sources of pollutants by selecting and

installing materials to minimize risk of moisture damage, specifying

materials with reduced chemical content, and ventilating homes prior 

to occupancy.
Quality Assurance and Homeowner

Education: Help ensure that homes

operate as designed by inspecting airhandling equipment and ductwork to

be sure they are clean and free of

debris and provide adequate air-flow, 

verifying that all necessary testing has

been performed, providing radon test

kits for homes located in high-risk

radon areas, and providing information 

to educate owners about their new

home’s indoor air quality features.
Are you ready to step up to

Indoor airPLUS?

1. Work with a Home Energy Rater

Work with a local Home Energy Rater—the same people who help you

with ENERGY STAR—to ensure that your homes are designed and built to

meet Indoor airPLUS construction specifications. 

2. Partner with EPA

Sign up at www.epa.gov/indoorairplus. Just fill in the Indoor airPLUS

partnership agreement, a simple online form that explains requirements

for use of the Indoor airPLUS name and mark. 

3. Verify and Label Homes

Have your homes inspected by your Home Energy Rater. Indoor airPLUS

inspections can be completed along with ENERGY STAR inspection and

testing. Sign the verification checklist and affix the Indoor airPLUS label

on each qualifying home, right next to the ENERGY STAR label.

4. Promote your Competitive Advantage 

Use Indoor airPLUS promotional materials and resources to gain market

advantage for your qualified homes.

More about Indoor airPLUS at: www.epa.gov/indoorairplus
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. 

The mark identifies new homes, buildings, and more than 50 types of

products that are energy efficient and offer the features, quality, and

performance today’s consumers expect. 

Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR are significantly more energy efficient

than standard homes. By purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified home, 

your customers can have all the features they desire in their new homes,

plus better performance and lower utility bills—all while helping reduce

greenhouse gas emissions. 

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary partnership

to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.

Today, ENERGY STAR offers consumers and businesses

energy-efficient solutions to save energy, save money, and help protect

the environment for future generations.

What is ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR qualified homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built

to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC) and include additional energy-saving

features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.

Only ENERGY STAR qualified

homes are eligible to earn the

Indoor airPLUS label.
www.epa.gov/indoorairplus

Office of Air and Radiation (6609J)

EPA 402/K-09/003 | January 2009