EPA Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards Spotlight NAHB Members, Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Sustainability and Green Building
Published

Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes leaders participating in the Indoor airPLUS program. The voluntary federal program encourages home builders to limit exposure to airborne pollutants through construction practices such as installing moisture control systems, advanced ventilation systems and low-emitting building materials, thus improving the air quality in new homes.

Mold, carbon monoxide, radon and toxic chemicals present in homes are linked to various health problems. Indoor air quality (IAQ) and associated health issues have become increasingly important to home buyers, as indicated by NAHB’s What Home Buyers Really Want report. According to the report, close to 60% of recent and prospective home buyers rated features such as dehumidification systems, whole-house mechanical ventilation, and low-VOC materials as either essential or desirable. As more people spend time in their homes due to the COVID-19 crisis, consumer awareness of IAQ and associated health effects may become more prevalent during home buying and remodeling discussions.

Presented at the EEBA High Performance Home Summit, the Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards identify participating organizations who stand out in promoting safer, heathier, and more comfortable indoor environments. Applications are now open for the 2020 Leader Awards.

Last year, NAHB member Thrive Home Builders was recognized as Builder Leader of the Year. Understanding the increased consumer demand for a heathier environment, Thrive works closely with subcontractors to ensure proper implementation of air quality-related construction details, and also provides an Indoor airPLUS-specific manual for each new participating home.

NAHB member Energy Inspectors was named Rater Leader of the Year in 2019 for helping multiple production builders commit to making 100% of their homes Indoor airPLUS certified. This was its sixth award through the program.

Other NAHB members recognized during the 2019 awards ceremony for their accomplishments included:

Raters and builders collaborating to improve indoor air quality, and the health of future building occupants are often recognized at the federal level through programs such as Indoor airPLUS and ENERGY STAR Certified Homes. Consider applying for the 2020 Indoor airPLUS Leader Awards to gain the recognition your company deserves. Applications are due June 10, 2020, and winners will be announced at the 2020 EEBA Summit Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2020.

For more information about NAHB's sustainable and green building programs, contact Program Manager Anna Stern. And to stay current on the high-performance residential building sector, follow NAHB’s Sustainability and Green Building team onTwitter.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Membership

Jul 21, 2025

NAHB Mourns Passing of Rick Herman

NAHB mourns the passing of Rick Herman, longtime Executive Officer of the Rochester Home Builders Association (RHBA) in New York. Rick joined RHBA 30 years ago and served as a tireless advocate for members in Rochester and around the state.

Construction Costs

Jul 18, 2025

Metals and Equipment Drove Material Prices Higher in June

Residential building material prices rose in June, driven primarily by higher construction machinery and equipment part prices, based on data from the most recent Producer Price Index (PPI). Metal commodities also experienced significant increases, following recently implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 21, 2025

Use of Private Water and Sewer Systems in New Single-Family Homes

The share of new single-family homes built with individual septic systems declined slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year, while the share of homes served by private wells remained steady.

Economics

Jul 21, 2025

Sales of Lower-Priced New Single-Family Homes Declined Over the Past Five Years

From 2020 to 2024, sales of lower-priced new homes declined significantly as the market moved toward higher-priced segments. Rising construction costs—driven by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages—as well as higher regulatory costs, made it increasingly difficult for builders to construct affordable homes.

Economics

Jul 18, 2025

State-Level Employment Situation: June 2025

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 states in June compared to the previous month, while employment decreased in 23 states and the District of Columbia. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 147,000 in June following a gain of 144,000 jobs in May.