The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis is a winner of their 2016 Indoor airPLUS Leader Award!
Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis is being awarded the Indoor airPLUS Leader Award for the second year in a row. Previously awarded as a small builder, Habitat Saint Louis is the first recipient in the new Affordable Builder category. Habitat Saint Louis has been a strong advocate for improved indoor air quality for many years and regularly provides education and training to the volunteers and organizations that work on their homes. Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis also highlights their Indoor airPLUS partnership by displaying the program logo on signage and collateral materials at special events and by participating in conference presentations describing their construction process.
The EPA created Indoor airPLUS to help builders meet the growing consumer preference for homes with improved indoor air quality. Indoor airPLUS builds on the foundation of EPA’s ENERGY STAR requirements for new homes and provides additional construction specifications to provide comprehensive indoor air quality protections in new homes.
“We are very honored to receive this award because it validates the commitment our affiliate has to building the best home possible in partnership with our homebuyers and volunteers,” said Kyle Hunsburger, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis’ Director of Construction.
Construction specifications include the careful selection and installation of moisture control systems; heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems; combustion-venting systems; radon resistant construction; and low-emitting building materials.
A builder must first design a home to earn the ENERGY STAR label — 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. To earn the Indoor airPLUS label, the builder then adds additional home design and construction features to help protect qualified homes from moisture and mold, pests, combustion gases, and other airborne pollutants. Before the home officially earns the Indoor airPLUS label, it is inspected by an independent third-party to ensure compliance with EPA’s rigorous guidelines and specifications.
To learn more about the 2016 Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards or the Indoor airPLUS Program, click here.
