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Indoor Air Quality & Health

Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Project goes beyond baseline IAQ requirements with low-emission materials, advanced filtration, and active monitoring.

Healthier Home (Clean Living) (placeholder seal) HH PLACEHOLDER

Description

The Healthier Home (Clean Living) badge recognizes projects that go meaningfully beyond the GreenStar baseline for indoor air quality and occupant health. The baseline already addresses combustion safety, radon, fresh-air ventilation, and filtration. The badge pushes further on three fronts: lower-emission materials at the surfaces occupants actually touch, advanced filtration on the air they breathe, and active monitoring so problems are caught early instead of discovered chronically.

Earning the badge does not require pursuing Platinum — but the Platinum-tier IAQ requirements (MERV 16 filter, advanced sensor for CO₂/TVOC/PM2.5/humidity/temperature, balanced ventilation with heat recovery) define the practical ceiling and provide the most common compliance path.

Required standard requirements

To earn this badge, the project must meet all of the following existing GreenStar requirements:

Additional badge criteria

Beyond the required standard requirements above, the project must also satisfy:

Low-emission materials

  1. 01.

    Interior paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives meet GreenSeal GS-11 / GS-36 / GS-47 emissions standards (or SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, FloorScore, or GreenGuard Gold equivalents).

  2. 02.

    All composite-wood panels (cabinetry, millwork, subfloor) meet CARB Phase 2 or TSCA Title VI for formaldehyde emissions.

  3. 03.

    New carpet, resilient flooring, and engineered wood floors carry FloorScore, Green Label Plus, or GreenGuard Gold certification.

  4. 04.

    No added flame retardants in installed furniture, mattresses, or upholstered seating where occupants control the spec (PBDEs, chlorinated tris explicitly excluded).

Advanced filtration

  1. 01.

    MERV 13 minimum on all ducted HVAC return paths (MERV 16 strongly preferred and required where the Platinum tier is being claimed alongside the badge).

  2. 02.

    Whole-house HEPA filtration on the fresh-air supply OR a dedicated bedroom-area HEPA air purifier rated for the served volume (CADR ≥ 2/3 of room area in sq ft).

  3. 03.

    Activated carbon stage on the kitchen range-hood filter or a downstream pre-filter — required where any combustion remains in the home.

Active monitoring

  1. 01.

    Continuous IAQ sensor installed in the primary living area, measuring at minimum: CO₂, total VOC, PM2.5, temperature, and relative humidity. RESET-certified sensors qualify automatically.

  2. 02.

    Sensor must be readable via on-device display or app, with alert thresholds configured for CO₂ > 1,000 ppm, PM2.5 > 35 µg/m³, and humidity outside 30–60% RH.

  3. 03.

    Sensor data exportable for at least 30 days of history (rolling) to support post-occupancy review.

Documentation

  1. 01.

    Material spec sheets / certificates for all paints, sealants, composite woods, and flooring.

  2. 02.

    Filter spec sheet showing MERV rating + photo of installed unit; HEPA unit cut sheet if used.

  3. 03.

    Sensor cut sheet + photo of installed location + screenshot of a recent reading showing the measured parameters.

  4. 04.

    Occupant orientation: homeowner/tenant briefed on filter-change cadence, sensor alerts, and ventilation operation.

Verification by tier

Evidence the project team submits at each certification tier. Cumulative — higher tiers include everything below unless noted otherwise.

  1. Certified

    Self-attestation
    • 01.

      Owner-signed materials list (paints, sealants, composite wood, flooring) referencing certifications.

    • 02.

      Photos of installed materials and installed IAQ sensor.

  2. Silver

    Documents + photos
    • 01.

      Material spec sheets / certification documents for every contributing product (GreenSeal, FloorScore, GreenGuard Gold, CARB Phase 2).

    • 02.

      Filter spec sheet showing MERV rating + HEPA unit cut sheet (if used) + sensor cut sheet.

  3. Gold

    Third-party test
    • 01.

      Single-snapshot IAQ test from a RESET-certified or equivalent indoor-air-quality professional, measuring CO₂, TVOC, PM2.5, RH, and temperature.

    • 02.

      Carpet/upholstery sample certifications attached.

  4. Platinum

    Post-occupancy verification
    • 01.

      30-day continuous sensor data export with exceedance summary (hours above CO₂ 1000 ppm, PM2.5 35 µg/m³, RH outside 30–60%).

    • 02.

      Independent rater sign-off on the 30-day report and the occupant-orientation completion.

Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Certified Healthier Home (Clean Living)

HVAC Filter Rating

Minimum MERV rating for filters on ducted heating/cooling systems.

Spec by tier

TierSpec
CertifiedMERV 8 minimum
SilverMERV 10 minimum
GoldMERV 13 minimum
PlatinumMERV 16 minimum

Scope

All HVAC return-air filters in ducted heating, cooling, and ventilation systems serving the dwelling.

Requirements

Performance targets

  1. 01.

    Filter MERV rating must meet the tier threshold in the "Spec by tier" table above.

  2. 02.

    The HVAC system's static pressure must be verified to support the filter MERV without restricting airflow — higher MERV filters create more pressure drop. Increase filter surface area (deeper filters: 4" or 5" pleated) where needed to stay within manufacturer spec.

  3. 03.

    Filter change cadence must be documented in the maintenance instructions (typically every 3-6 months).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Filter spec sheets (or photos of the rated labels) for all installed return-air filters.

  2. 02.

    HVAC static pressure test record showing total external static pressure within manufacturer spec at design airflow.

Guidance

Why MERV ratings matter — and what they actually filter

MERV 8 captures dust, mold spores, pet dander. MERV 11-13 captures pollen, smoke particles, and most allergens. MERV 16 captures bacteria, ultrafine particles, virus carriers — approaching HEPA performance. Each step up roughly doubles the particle-capture efficiency for the next-smaller particle size.

Note

Many residential HVAC systems can't handle a MERV 13+ filter at standard 1" depth — the pressure drop exceeds the blower's capacity and reduces airflow below cooling spec. Solution: switch to a 4-5" deep pleated filter (Aprilaire, Honeywell, etc.) — same MERV rating, much larger surface area, no airflow penalty.

Resources

  • ASHRAE 52.2 — Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices

    The standard that defines MERV ratings.

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Certified Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Bathroom Exhaust Ventilation

Bath fans exhaust to the outdoors (verified with a toilet-paper test). Silver and above must also test to ≥ 50 CFM per bathroom.

Scope

Exhaust fans in every bathroom — full bath, half-bath, and powder rooms with a permanent water source.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Every bathroom must have an exhaust fan that vents to the outdoors. Termination must be an exterior wall, soffit (where vented), or roof — NOT into the attic, eave, or wall cavity.

  2. 02.

    At Certified: verify with a "toilet paper test" — hold a single ply of TP against the running fan and confirm it sticks.

  3. 03.

    At Silver and above: flow-test the fan to confirm at least 50 CFM (per ASHRAE 62.2 minimum).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Photo of each bath fan termination (exterior wall hood, roof jack, or vented soffit).

  2. 02.

    For Silver+: flow-test record (date, fan model, measured CFM at the grille).

Guidance

Why termination matters

A surprisingly large fraction of installed bath fans terminate inside the attic — the installer ran the duct but never finished it through the roof. Result: humid air dumps directly into the attic, condenses on the underside of the roof deck, and causes mold, ice damming, or even structural rot. The toilet-paper test verifies the fan moves air; visual inspection of the termination verifies that air goes outside.

Note

Common failure: rigid metal duct connected to a flex bath-fan inlet, with the connection unsealed by tape. Air leaks out at the joint and into the attic. Mastic the joint with HVAC tape (UL-181 rated) and you fix it permanently.

Resources

  • ASHRAE 62.2 — Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings

    The bath-fan CFM minimum (50 CFM intermittent or 20 CFM continuous) comes from this standard.

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Certified Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Range Hood Tested at 100 CFM (or Electric Stove)

Either install an electric stove, or have a range hood that is tested to vent at least 100 CFM to the outdoors.

Scope

The kitchen cooking surface. Choose one of the two compliance paths — electric stove (eliminates combustion) or vented range hood (removes combustion products if gas is used).

Requirements

Choose one path

  1. 01.

    Electric path: install an electric stove (induction or resistance). No range hood requirement applies. (Aligns with the Gold all-electric cooking requirement.)

  2. 02.

    Vented hood path: install a range hood ducted to the outdoors and tested at ≥ 100 CFM at the hood face.

  3. 03.

    The hood capture area must extend at least to the front edge of the cooktop burners (not just over the rear burners).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Photo of the installed cooktop showing whether it is electric or gas.

  2. 02.

    For vented hood: spec sheet showing rated CFM + flow test record at the hood face.

  3. 03.

    Photo of the hood termination outdoors.

Guidance

Why this is a single-requirement two-path setup

Gas combustion releases NO2, CO, formaldehyde, and ultrafine particles at concentrations that frequently exceed EPA outdoor air-quality limits indoors. A properly-vented hood mitigates this. An electric stove sidesteps the problem entirely. The standard accepts either.

Note

Recirculating ("ductless") range hoods do not satisfy this requirement — they filter particles but do not remove NO2 or CO. The hood must vent to the outdoors.

Resources

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Certified Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Radon Testing and Mitigation

Test for radon; no levels above PCL 4 permitted. Install a passive or active mitigation system if needed. All new construction and all EPA Zone 1 homes require a system.

Scope

Indoor radon levels throughout the dwelling, with emphasis on the lowest livable floor.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Perform a 48-hour minimum short-term radon test on the lowest livable level of the dwelling. Test must follow EPA protocol (closed-house conditions for 12 hours before + during test).

  2. 02.

    If result is ≥ 4 pCi/L, install a radon mitigation system (passive or active sub-slab depressurization) and retest to confirm post-mitigation levels.

  3. 03.

    All new construction in any climate must include a passive radon system (4" vertical riser from sub-slab to roof, capped or fan-assisted).

  4. 04.

    All homes in EPA Zone 1 counties must include an active radon system regardless of initial test results.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Radon test report from a certified lab (NRPP or NRSB), with the test conditions, dates, and result in pCi/L.

  2. 02.

    For mitigation: system design + photos showing the riser, fan (if active), and roof termination.

  3. 03.

    Post-mitigation retest report.

Guidance

Why this is a Certified-level requirement

Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking — and #1 among non-smokers. The EPA estimates ~21,000 deaths/year are attributable to radon exposure. Testing costs $25-$50; mitigation costs $800-$2,500. Both are dramatically cheaper than the health consequences of unaddressed exposure.

Resources

Note

Long-term radon tests (90+ days) are more accurate than 48-hour short-term tests. GHI accepts either for compliance, but for occupied homes with marginal short-term results (3.0-3.9 pCi/L), a follow-up long-term test is recommended.

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Silver Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Whole-House Fresh Air Supply

A whole-house mechanical fresh-air supply system is provided.

Scope

Continuous or intermittent mechanical ventilation that supplies outdoor air to the dwelling — separate from spot ventilation (bath fans, kitchen hood).

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install a whole-house ventilation system meeting ASHRAE 62.2-2022 airflow minimums (typically 30-90 CFM for a 1500-3000 sf home, depending on bedrooms).

  2. 02.

    Acceptable system types: dedicated supply fan, exhaust-only with passive inlets, or balanced (supply + exhaust with optional heat recovery — required at Gold).

  3. 03.

    Run-time controls must ensure the design CFM is delivered as an average over each 4-hour period.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation calculation worksheet showing required CFM for the dwelling.

  2. 02.

    Ventilation system spec sheet + photo of installed fan / controls.

  3. 03.

    Flow test confirming delivered CFM at the grille(s).

Guidance

Why tight houses need this

Modern construction is tight enough that natural infiltration alone no longer dilutes indoor pollutants to safe levels — VOCs from finishes, CO2 from occupants, moisture from cooking/showering, and (for the unlucky) radon all accumulate. The whole-house fan is the air-quality equivalent of a circulating pump in a plumbing system.

Resources

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Silver Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Kitchen Ventilation

Kitchen has proper ventilation via range hood, outdoor air system, or air-quality monitor. (At Platinum, the range hood must detect PM2.5 and activate automatically.)

Scope

Kitchen ventilation supplementing or extending the basic range hood requirement.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install one of: (a) range hood ducted outdoors and flow-tested at ≥ 100 CFM at the hood face; (b) dedicated kitchen exhaust fan; or (c) an indoor air-quality monitor that triggers ventilation when PM2.5, CO, or VOCs spike.

  2. 02.

    At Platinum, the range hood must include automatic activation triggered by a PM2.5 sensor (typical threshold: 35 µg/m³).

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Hood spec + flow test record at the hood face (not the fan, not the duct).

  2. 02.

    For Platinum: PM2.5 sensor spec sheet and integration with the range hood control.

Guidance

100 CFM at the hood face — what that means

Many high-end "1000 CFM" range hoods deliver only 200-400 CFM at the hood face because of undersized ducting, multiple elbows, or a long run to the exterior. Flow-test at the hood face (with the hood running on its highest setting and the kitchen door closed) is the only meaningful verification.

Note

Larger ducts (6" round minimum, 8" preferred) and short, straight runs make a huge difference. Avoid more than two 90° elbows. Roof terminations are typically lower-resistance than wall terminations.

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Gold Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Balanced Fresh-Air System

A balanced (supply + exhaust) fresh-air system is installed and tested.

Scope

Mechanical ventilation system delivering balanced supply and exhaust airflow — HRV (heat recovery ventilator) or ERV (energy recovery ventilator).

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install a dedicated HRV or ERV sized to ASHRAE 62.2-2022 ventilation rates for the dwelling.

  2. 02.

    Commission with a balance test: measured supply CFM and exhaust CFM must be within 10% of each other.

  3. 03.

    Supply ducting must distribute fresh air to bedrooms and main living areas; exhaust ducting must pull from kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    HRV/ERV spec sheet showing sensible recovery efficiency (≥ 60% for cold climates, ≥ 70% for ENERGY STAR).

  2. 02.

    Commissioning test report showing measured supply CFM, exhaust CFM, and the balance percentage.

  3. 03.

    Marked floor plan showing supply and exhaust grille locations.

Guidance

HRV vs ERV — which to pick

HRV recovers sensible heat only (temperature). ERV recovers both sensible heat and latent (humidity). Use ERV in hot-humid climates (Zones 2-3) to keep summer humidity out, and in cold-dry climates (Zones 6-7) to keep winter humidity in. HRV is acceptable in mixed climates (Zones 4-5) where humidity transfer is less critical.

Resources

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Gold Healthier Home (Clean Living) Reduced Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF)

Indoor Air Quality Sensor

RESET-certified air-quality sensor installed in the main living area or ducts. (At Platinum, sensor measures CO₂, TVOC, humidity, temp, and PM2.5.)

Scope

Continuous indoor air-quality monitoring in the dwelling.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install a RESET-certified or ENERGY STAR-recognized air-quality sensor in the main living area, or in the return-air duct.

  2. 02.

    Sensor must measure PM2.5 at minimum. Additional sensors for CO2, TVOC, humidity, and temperature are encouraged.

  3. 03.

    At Platinum: sensor must measure CO2, TVOC, humidity, temperature, AND PM2.5 (full RESET Grade B).

  4. 04.

    Sensor data must be accessible to the occupant via a display or mobile app.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Sensor spec sheet with the measured pollutants listed.

  2. 02.

    Photo of installed sensor in the main living area.

  3. 03.

    Screenshot of the occupant's monitoring app showing live readings.

Guidance

Why monitoring is the missing piece

A home can have a great ventilation system, low-VOC finishes, and HEPA filtration — and still have unexpected IAQ events from cooking, candles, new furniture off-gassing, or wildfire smoke. Continuous monitoring lets the occupant notice and act on these events rather than living with them.

Resources

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Platinum Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Ventilation with Heat/Energy Recovery or Smart Controls

Ventilation includes energy-recovery / heat-recovery (ERV/HRV) or smart-control features.

Scope

The whole-house ventilation system, building on the Silver and Gold ventilation requirements.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Ventilation must include heat recovery (HRV) or energy recovery (ERV) with a minimum 70% sensible recovery efficiency.

  2. 02.

    OR the system must include smart-control features (CO2 demand-controlled, occupancy-triggered, scheduled per-room boost).

  3. 03.

    Either pathway must include continuous monitoring of supply CFM and integration with the IAQ sensor required at Gold.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    HRV/ERV spec showing SRE ≥ 70%, OR smart-control system spec showing the demand-control logic.

  2. 02.

    Photo of installed unit and control interface.

  3. 03.

    Integration documentation showing the IAQ sensor → ventilation control link.

Guidance

Smart-control ventilation

Demand-controlled ventilation throttles based on actual indoor air quality — runs harder when CO2 is high (people present) or when PM2.5 spikes (cooking, wildfire). Result: same air quality as continuous-run ventilation with 30-50% less fan energy and less conditioned-air exhaust.

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Indoor Air Quality & Health Required from Platinum Healthier Home (Clean Living)

Whole-Home Humidity Control

Whole-home dehumidification / humidification provided where appropriate by climate (target 40–50°F dewpoint).

Scope

Whole-home humidity management — dehumidification in cooling season, humidification in heating season, as appropriate to climate.

Requirements

  1. 01.

    Install a whole-home dehumidifier (typically integrated with the HVAC return) sized for the dwelling.

  2. 02.

    Target dewpoint range: 40-55°F (corresponds to ~30-50% RH at typical indoor temperatures).

  3. 03.

    In cold-dry climates (Zones 6-8), add a whole-home humidifier to prevent winter RH dropping below 30%.

  4. 04.

    Controls must be tied to the IAQ sensor required at Gold.

Documentation

Evidence the inspector / Institute will need.

  1. 01.

    Dehumidifier (and humidifier where applicable) spec sheets showing pint/day capacity and integration.

  2. 02.

    Photo of installed unit + control interface.

  3. 03.

    Initial commissioning record showing RH/dewpoint readings in main living area.

Guidance

Why dehumidification is separate from AC

In hot-humid climates, a properly-sized AC removes humidity as a side effect of cooling — but only when it's running. During mild "shoulder" periods (May, October), the AC doesn't run enough to control humidity, and indoor RH can climb to 65-75%. A dedicated dehumidifier handles the gap.

Note

Mold growth becomes likely above 60% sustained RH on cool surfaces. Most building scientists recommend keeping RH between 30% (winter floor) and 50% (summer ceiling). Below 30% causes static, dry skin, increased respiratory infection; above 60% causes mold + dust mite growth.

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