A large majority of the indoor air quality (IAQ) problems that we investigate are caused by airborne particles. Also known as particulate matter, this involves the smaller dust, dirt, and debris found in the indoor air.
MY NEVER-ENDING QUEST TO REACH THE ISIAQ CONFERENCE
A few months ago, a single click turned my November upside down. I was getting ready to book my airline tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii, to attend the Healthy Buildings America 2021 conference. Before I clicked “purchase,” I opened up the conference webpage to double check the dates…
TRAVIS REVIEWS ‘HEALTHY BUILDINGS’
By the time you reach 80, you will have spent 72 years of your life indoors. This means that the people who design, build, and maintain our buildings can have a major impact on your health. That statement is one of the most profound statements noted on the inside cover for a book that I recently purchased…
OUR CAT, STEWART, IS TURNING 18!
Some people might say that Halloween is black cat season, but I think pure white cats can be just as spooky. They’re like cute little ghosts haunting the neighborhood! Of course, I may be biased because I happen to have a white cat named Stewart.
2 WEEKS OF REMODELING WREAKED HAVOC ON OUR HOME’S AIR QUALITY
The air quality Kaye and I experienced during our kitchen renovation can be summed up in two words: not good! As I mentioned on Page 1, I used my laser particle counter to collect data on the air we were breathing. Specifically, I analyzed two different particle types: PM2.5 and PM10.0.
2 TIPS I LEARNED FROM MY CRAZY KITCHEN RENOVATION
This summer, Kaye and I hired a renovation company to remodel our kitchen. They found out pretty quickly that renovating the home of an indoor air quality expert isn’t just another day on the job. I think it really hit them when I handed over a fan on their first day of work.
THIS GREAT PYRENEES GUIDED HIS GOATS THROUGH A WILDFIRE
In October 2017, California was in flames. One of those blazes was the Tubbs Fire, which charred its way through 36,800 miles of forests and vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma County. More than 5,600 buildings were destroyed, and 22 people were killed. But when the flames finally died, a fourlegged hero emerged…
WE HAVE A TRICK TO SPOT IT
As I write this, we’re right in the middle of hurricane season, and that means it’s also the reason for mold. No one wants to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane (and I hope you don’t have to),
but they’re notorious for causing leaks and pesky mold, even in commercial buildings built to be hurricane-resistant.
DON’T MAKE THESE 3 BIG IAQ MISTAKES
This is a difficult time for building engineers and managers. You probably feel like you’re walking a tightrope, caught between the stresses of low occupancy and the pressure to ensure your buildings will be COVID-19-proof when tenants return. It’s tough to negotiate this transition…
WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY VERY FIRST JOB
I got my first “real” job at the age of 17. I’d already worked on my family’s farm, so I had experience taking care of calves, milking cows, and baling hay, but I hardly counted that as a job — it was just life. At 17, I was between high school and college, and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.