This research was initiated with support from the California Energy Commission. Additional funding has been provided by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For decades, teams of Berkeley Lab scientists have investigated the ways that indoor air quality affects human health—from cognitive ability to personal comfort. Lab scientists were among the first to sound the alarm about sick buildings, including the health risks posed by radon, and also to offer solutions to make buildings healthier. They continue to identify and monitor other sources of indoor pollution–from cooking byproducts to thirdhand smoke, and to substantiate the health virtues and cost savings of energy-efficient ventilation, particularly in schools. Berkeley Lab experts have changed—and continue to change—the national thinking about what constitutes healthy building design and use.