EPA Awards Significant IAQ Contract to Environmental Education Foundation

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EPA Awards Significant IAQ Contract to Environmental Education

Foundation

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EEF to Leverage Insurance and Lending Industries to Adopt New

Guidelines The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a

significant contract to the Environmental Education Foundation (EEF)

to form a coalition of major players in the building

design/construction and property management industry, including

insurance and financial institutions. The purpose of the contract

according to Mudarri, Ph.D., Indoor Environments Division of

the Environmental Protection Agency, " [is to promote EPA's indoor

air quality guidance and encourage its use as the basis for managing

indoor environmental quality risks. "

Washington DC (PRWEB) July 30, 2005 -- The U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a significant contract to the

Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) to form a coalition of

major players in the building design/construction and property

management industry, including insurance and financial institutions.

The purpose of the contract according to Mudarri, Ph.D.,

Indoor Environments Division of the Environmental Protection

Agency, " [is to promote EPA's indoor air quality guidance and

encourage its use as the basis for managing indoor environmental

quality risks. "

" This is an industry-changing initiative, " says EEF Executive

Director Troy E. . " With its adoption by a myriad of industry

partners, this is quickly becoming the standard for managing indoor

air quality in commercial and multifamily residential buildings. "

Managing indoor environmental quality risks has gained importance in

recent years with the advent of large court settlements for personal

injury and for mold-related damage to homes and buildings. The

impact of mold-related litigation has been most evident in the

insurance industry, but recent developments show an added impact in

financial institutions. Lenders are beginning to closely evaluate

the impact mold-related damage can have on the value of commercial

and residential properties and a few cases of lenders " forgiving "

mortgages, as it is less risk than taking ownership of the

properties, are being reported.

Insurers and lenders (including REITs-Real Estate Investment Trusts)

want to reduce risks and are now realizing the importance of quality

construction and the use of appropriate materials in new building

construction. In addition, operations and maintenance of the

facility is more critical than ever. In some instances, borrowers

are asked to fill out detailed questionnaires about the maintenance

history of the building and potential problems that could lead to

mold growth. Insurers and lenders have also shown an interest in

knowing if owners and managers have a plan of action in the event of

a mold or air quality problem.

EEF's success in developing its own IAQ program that addresses water

intrusion and mold management has positioned the organization to be

a viable force in EPA's plans for managing indoor environmental

quality risks. A combination of EPA's IAQ Building Education and

Assessment Model (I-BEAM) software and EEF's water intrusion and

mold management program are providing new guidance for any industry

dealing with air quality issues. EEF will also develop a process to

pilot test an EPA training module for the Integration of IAQ and

Energy Efficiency in Well Managed Buildings, which is based on the 5-

staged ENERGY STAR program and EEF will review EPA's IAQ Green

Building Guidance.

" With the merger of some of the start-up IAQ associations and a

growing list of fly-by-night " IAQ Associations " , who report to be

and have the answers to IAQ issues, the EPA had many of these new

organizations clamoring for attention. The EPA ultimately awarded

the contract to the EEF based on our long history of collaboration

with them and because our mold management and water intrusion

program is what lenders and insurance carriers are using today.

Applying what we have learned from developing this existing program,

along with the input from over 30 organizations, is making the

expanded program the " beast of the best, " says . " This

process will help the EPA promote good practices, or improved best

practices, using a combination of EPA material, EPA I-BEAM software

and EEF training that is accepted by all. "

EEF efforts are significant because the organization has brought

together major stakeholders in the management of air quality issues

including a who's who of industry professionals as well as mortgage

bankers, insurance carriers, architects, pest management,

laboratories, IAQ products & services, trade associations and other

government agencies.

" Our program is recognized by major insurance carriers for meeting

certain underwriter requirements for obtaining mold insurance, " says

. " The commercial building owners and property managers, who

want to get mold insurance for their buildings, can take our course

and become a member of our organization. In addition, the course is

also being used by lenders as a requirement for their borrowers to

have in place. "

A complete list of EEF partners and the scope of work for the

project is available from the EEF website at: http://www.enviro-

ed.org/Pages/EPA_letter.html & http://www.enviro-

ed.org/Pages/partner_listad.html. Some of the organization included:

ARCS Commercial Mortgage Co. L.P., PNC Multi-family Capital, XL

Environmental Insurance, Building Owners & Managers Association

(BOMA), the Association of School Business Officials International

(ASBO), The Air & Waste Management Association, Cleaning Management

Institute (CMI), EMSL Analytical, Environmental Risk Resources

Association, National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA),

Environmental Hazards Management Institute (EHMI), Environmental

Monitoring Systems (EMS), HUD, The National Indoor Air Quality

Institute, Partnership for Environmental Technology Education

(PETE), Hixson Architectural, IQAir, Pest Management Institute,

Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK), The Naturalist Network and

other organizations that support IAQ best practices, in working with

the EEF's EPA IAQ Advisory Group

About Environmental Educational Foundation

The Environmental Education Foundation (EEF) is a 501© 3

charitable organization dedicated to the development and

dissemination of information regarding hazards to human health and

threats to the environment with particular emphasis on hazards or

threats which are associated with occupying, purchasing, insuring,

selling or owning residential, commercial or industrial property;

testing methodologies and procedures to detect such hazards and

threats; and programs and measures which mitigate or eliminate such

hazards. EEF is partners with many government and non-governmental

agencies and sits as Consultants to the United Nations on

Environmental, Health and Safety issues. Contact: www.enviro-

ed.org ; Phone: 480-659-9356

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Emma Chastain

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Visit Our Site

480-659-9356

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ATTACHED FILES

EEF Executive Director Discusses the Contract with EPA Staff at a

Recent HUD Event

Photo of Mr. Troy E. , Executive Director of EEF flanked by

two EPA staff - discussing the EPA contract and Indoor Air Quality

Issues.

Uploaded: Jul 28, 2005

File Name:EEFExecutiveDirectorandEPAStaffatarecentHUDConference.jpg