Page 390 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

DoD Sustainable Construction and IAQ 351

Indoor Environmental Quality
This section includes two prerequisites and eight credit subcategories. The prerequisites
are easily met since IAQ performance requirements are included in construction
specifications, and environmental tobacco smoke is typically achieved by smoking bans
and the establishment of outdoor designated smoking areas. Some credit points are
fairly easy, such as daylight views and operable windows (for increased ventilation and
controllability of systems), which are inherent in lodging design. Some credits are not
as feasible, such as CO monitoring, since it may be difficult and expensive due to the
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decentralized HVAC design common to lodging facilities. Other credits could be
accomplished by simply making them a requirement in the design standards and
construction specifications. Although the LEED Application Guide for Lodging cites
the importance of IAQ due to the long lifetime of lodging facilities and the extended
duration of exposure to contaminants by occupants, it also states that there are no
standards or product selection criteria for construction IAQ management and low-
emitting materials which could easily aid in mandating achievement of these credits.
However, as noted in the Materials and Resources section, recent initiatives at many
military facilities to form sustainable initiatives between procurement and design teams
have resulted in these materials becoming more readily accessible for installation use.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of the main components of this category and is one of the
most important sustainable features for lodging facilities and Air Force housing projects
since it is of major importance for the health of occupants and has a direct impact on
training and mission if service members become ill. Items related to IAQ in Air Force
facilities are further detailed in Sec. 9.4.

Innovation in Design
No specific guidance is provided for these credits as they involve individually
substantiated evidence that additional innovation beyond the other categories and
credits was applied to the specific project. There is very little that could be added to
help interpret these broadly defined credits to a lodging faculty or Air Force project.
Many of the items in the LEEDApplication Guide for Lodging can be applied in so
many other industries in the United States. Many states are promoting “Green Lodging”
programs in the hotel and tourism industry too. Considering that lodging is the
fourthlargest energy consumer in the U.S. commercial sector, it does make both
environmental and economic sense for this industry to also go green.

9.4 Importance of Indoor Air Quality
IAQ is one of the most vital design considerations for military lodging facilities since
indoor pollution-related illnesses can create losses of personnel for critical training or
mission requirements. IAQ also has a higher relative significance in residential or
lodging facilities; due to the longer sustained time period residents occupy these
facilities. The health and comfort of occupants of facilities and the impact this has on
productivity are a recognized value of a sustainable facility. Poor IAQ may result in
temporarily degrading an individual’s physical well-being and can lead to serious
long-term illnesses. Types of symptoms commonly linked to poor IAQ include
headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, irritation
of the eye, nose, and throat, dizziness, and nausea. Immediate reactions may occur after