Concepts and Practices for Improved Indoor Environmental Quality (M&V Protocol)

George E. Thomas, PE

Course Outline

This course focuses exclusively on indoor environmental quality issues (IEQ). It starts with a general introduction to IEQ. Best practices for maintaining a high level of IEQ are then reviewed. The potential positive and negative influences of specific energy conservation measures on IEQ are also summarized in a tabular format.

The course documents will also address IEQ measurement and verification procedures that may be used to address the following:

1) ensure that the energy conservation measures have no adverse influence on IEQ,
2) quantify the improvements in IEQ resulting from implementation of energy conservation measures, and
3) verify that selected IEQ parameters satisfy the applicable IEQ guidelines or standards.

A multi-step procedure for IEQ measurement and verification is presented, followed by a discussion of general approaches for measurement and verification and then by a table of measurement and verification alternatives linked to specific IEQ parameters.

The course document has been prepared by an international team of IEQ and building energy efficiency experts and reflects the current state of knowledge.

This course includes a multiple choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

This course will review the following topics:

• Pollutant Sources;
• Pressure Control;
• Air Cleaning;
• Pollutant Removal;
• Air Recirculation;
• Air Flow Patterns;
• Non-Specific Health Effects;
• Building Related Illness;
• Environmental Quality Standards;
• Productivity;
• Best Practices;
• Maintenance Requirements;
• Influences of Energy Conservation Measures;
• Linkages Between Energy Conservation Measures; and
• Measurement and Verification Alternatives.
  

Intended Audience

This course would be of interest to Facility Engineers, Environmental Engineers, Energy Professionals, Energy Managers, Energy Services Contractors, Energy Consultants, Developers, and Technicians.

Course Introduction

Many characteristics of the indoor environment may influence comfort, health, satisfaction, and productivity of building occupants. The following indoor environmental characteristics are most likely to be influenced by building energy conservation measures:

• indoor thermal conditions such as air temperature and its vertical gradient, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, and humidity;
• concentrations of pollutants and odors in indoor air and amount of pollutants on surfaces;
• lighting intensity and quality;

This course provides detailed information on indoor air pollution and indoor environmental quality influenced by the indoor thermal environment, thermal comfort, lighting levels and provides models for predicting the level of satisfaction of the occupants.

Course Content

This course is based entirely on the Publication DOE/GO-102002-1517, March 2002 International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol. You will be quizzed on the document in its entirety.

International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

At the completion of this course the engineering/energy professional will know to maintain or improve IEQ and occupant health and comfort during the implementation of building energy conservation measures in retrofits or new construction of commercial and public buildings.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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