Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
A common term in the building industry, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) can be considered one of the biggest, if not the biggest, considerations for building designers.
The term refers to a variety of factors which, when brought together, amount to the overall comfort, enjoyment, and satisfaction a building occupant gets from being in the building.
These components, as shown by the graphic, are the quality of sound, lighting, odor, and air within a construct. There are some other factors which can be considered to contribute to IEQ, including the functionality of the space, the openness of the space, and other more subjective qualities.
The building envelope is obviously a key part of IEQ, as many of the IEQ’s core components are directly built into the building envelope itself. When the building envelope is operating on all cylinders, home residents are guaranteed a strong IEQ level and a better indoor experience.