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The goal of good IEQ is to enhance our health within our homes and there is an inseparable relationship between IEQ and energy performance which asks of us to coordinate our efforts to achieve this goal.
 Indoor Environmental Quality in our homes involves the inherent qualities indoors that affect our senses: natural daylighting and connection to the outdoors (sight), acoustics (hearing), thermal comfort (touch), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) including ventilation (smell), and ergonomics.
Americans spend almost 90% of their time indoors. Just this fact alone tells us how important this issue is. Yet, currently many of our homes have been poorly designed, we fill them with furnishings which are, unbeknown to us, toxic. This combination has proven to be detrimental to our health.
Key Systems that Comprise IEQ
Each of these IEQ qualities are intrinsically inseparable parts of the whole system of our home, each having a potential positive or negative consequence on the other. All of these systems influence overall IEQ and many affect energy performance, including:
• Natural light and connection to the outdoors is important to our health. natural light influences interior walls and finishes, furniture and window placement — all of which should complement one another. Energy usage can be reduced through the right window selection, placement and glazings.
• Acoustics also places a focus on what kind of furniture and finishes you may want to select. Any noise producing equipment such as fluorescent light ballast, fans, or media centers can be balanced with softer furnishings such as carpeting, window coverings and furniture.
• Thermal comfort — are you too hot or too cold. How's the indoor humidity? Is there enough airflow? Of all the IEQ issues, this one causes more disagreements among family membres than all the others.
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) — involves careful attention to selection of finishes and furniture. Not only do you want to avoid toxins, particulates and molds, but poor IAQ increases energy use needed for additional ventilation needed to maintain an acceptable level of IAQ.
• Ergonomics also influences your selection of furnishings. For example, where computer monitors are in use, its important to coordinate with lighting and windows to prevent glare to keep your eyes healthy. Desktops heights and keyboards should be appropriate for your size with appropriate chairs to help maintain good posture. And, counter and cabinets should be built and arranged to prevent too long a reach which may overstretch muscles or cause accidents.
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