International societies form indoor environmental quality global alliance
A newly formed alliance seeks to serve as a global source for information, guidance and knowledge on indoor environmental quality.
A memorandum of understanding creating the Indoor Environmental Quality Global Alliance was signed Sunday, June 29, at ASHRAE’s 2014 Annual Conference in Seattle, Wash. In addition to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), other groups joining the Alliance are the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC), the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA), the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) and the Federation of European Heating and Air-Conditioning Associations (REHVA).
The Alliance was formed by an ad hoc committee appointed by ASHRAE 2013-14 President Bill Bahnfleth to explore ways in which industry groups could work together to address all aspects of indoor environmental quality and health.
“In the built environment, indoor environmental quality must be our first concern,” Presidential Member Bahnfleth said. “Before we address impacts of buildings and transportation systems on energy consumption and the environment – which, make no mistake, are also critically important – we must ensure that we are providing indoor environments that are safe, healthy, productive and comfortable for occupants. Today, and for some time, we have strongly emphasized energy conservation and protection of the environment to such an extent that the need for progress in indoor environmental quality has been obscured. A broad, coordinated effort is needed to fill gaps in research, transfer the results of science to practice, advocate for higher standards and better educate both the built environment professions and the public. I believe that formation of this Alliance is a key to meeting those objectives. ASHRAE is eager to contribute its expertise to this group and to once again be a leader in the field of indoor environmental quality, beginning with a focus on indoor air quality.”
“AIHA is very excited to join ASHRAE and other international stakeholders in the IEQ Global Alliance,” Christine A.D. Lorenzo, CIH, president, AIHA, said. “The Alliance brings together key groups, each of which has members with unique sets of skills and knowledge. We look forward to working within the Alliance to identify new ways to collaborate, and expand international alignment in this important area of occupational hygiene and engineering practice.”