With U.S. Census figures indicating the number of Americans working from home tripled between 2019 and 20211—and fully remote and hybrid work options likely here to stay—it’s safe to say that awareness of our spaces’ strengths and shortcomings has never been greater. Expectations of healthy-home features, including improved indoor air quality (IAQ), are increasing, with more than 60% of home owners now saying IAQ is their top priority in this space.2

Combine that with newer construction codes aimed at creating a building envelope that’s tighter than ever before—and a power grid that’s evolving away from fossil fuels and speeding up the requirement for new construction to further prioritize energy efficiency—and you have a particularly keen need for IAQ solutions in the homes you build.

The Ideal IAQ Ecosystem

From a systems standpoint, IAQ solutions start with ventilation by way of a central HVAC system—including a high-efficiency heat pump or air conditioner, which is typically paired with an air handler or furnace. Running the fan in the HVAC system helps to improve comfort and IAQ by mixing the air:

  • For IAQ. Gas-based pollutants such as CO2 can build up without adequate airflow, especially in smaller common areas where people congregate, and in bedrooms at night. Running the fan will mix the polluted air in these spaces with clean air from the rest of the house, improving the air quality in those spaces.
  • For comfort. The fan mixes the air from the warmer rooms with that of colder rooms, warming up the colder rooms even when heat is not running.

The best way to provide mixing is by installing a variable-capacity heating and cooling system. The central fan runs the majority of the time, rather than cycling on and off at full speed, thus ensuring a better mix of fresh air.

As part of the HVAC system, heat pumps have become an energy-efficient means to heat a home using electricity. Because heat pumps draw energy from the electric grid, as the grid gets greener, a home’s heating system will generate fewer CO2 emissions than a gas furnace, which will generate the same amount of emissions regardless of improvements to the grid.

Jon Douglas, director of Healthy Buildings Services and Solutions at Johnson Controls, recommends adding accessories to create an ecosystem that fully optimizes IAQ, including:

  • Whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers
  • Energy-recovery ventilators
  • Touch-screen thermostats

Together, these products help create the ideal ecosystem for the healthy and energy-efficient home buyers want.

And remember that when building a new home, it is important to invest in features that are affordable to incorporate now but expensive to add after construction is complete, Douglas says. Examples include:

  • HVAC filter racks that accommodate large (up to 4-inch) filters to help remove particle-based pollutants such as dirt and dust from the air
  • Sealed ducts throughout a home’s conditioned space to help ensure efficient airflow and reduce the chance for dirt, dust, and other particle-based pollutants to spread through the air
  • Range hoods that vent outside to mitigate pollutants produced from cooking
  • Venting for gas appliances, including fireplaces and space heaters

Visit Johnsoncontrols.com/NewConstruction to learn how Johnson Controls can help you deliver healthy homes for your customers.