EQ 8.2 Indoor Contaminant Control rewards points for ensuring that occupants and guests take off their shoes upon entering our house. (Hear that, Mom? And Larry David?) We can get one point each, up to two points, for doing the following:
- Design and install permanent walk-off mats at each entry that are at least 4 feet in length and allow accessibility for cleaning (e.g., grating with catch basin).
- Design a shoe removal and storage space near the primary entryway, separated from living areas. This space may not have wall-to-wall carpeting, and it must be large enough to accommodate a bench and at least two pairs of shoes per bedroom.
- Install a central vacuum system with exhaust to the outdoors. Ensure that the exhaust is not near any ventilation air intake.
For #1 and #2, here’s why, according the LEED for Homes Reference Manual:
A majority of the dirt and dust in homes is tracked in by occupants. Debris carried into the house from shoes often contains lead, asbestos, pesticides, and other hazardous materials. Shoes also track moisture into the home, leading to mold growth in carpeting near entry-ways….One of the most effective approaches to reducing indoor contaminants is removing shoes upon entry.
The other great thing about this credit is that it encourages mudrooms in the design. Our architect’s very first proposal for our house did not include a mudroom. Once we added it by the garage, with a short enclosed breezeway connecting to the house, it became a great design. For #1: we do have mats at every entryway, but they are not permanent and they are not at least 4 feet in length, so no points for #1. (I suppose if we need another LEED point, I could go get some bigger mats.) We do meet the requirements for #2, as shown in the photo, as it was part of our overall program. (Living in Minnesota, with all the winter months of snow and the messy months of fall and spring, we need it!)
As for #3, we did not install a central vacuum system. We had it in the initial plan for the home, because of this credit, but removed it during a cost-cutting exercise. The extra cost of putting in all those pipes within the walls was not worth it to us. Additionally, I grew up in a home with a central vacuum cleaner, and my mom was always complaining about it because it required so much work hauling around the long hoses. We barely had enough room for the ductwork and wiring inside the walls, much less for vacuum pipes.
Overall, we get one point for controlling indoor contaminants. Like other credits, though, much of our success depends on how we live in the home: do we enforce the shoe removal policy? We try. We are much more strict on the upstairs bedrooms, where we do have wall-to-wall carpeting. The main level is enforced for our immediate family, but we are a little lenient on the main level for guests. It seems that some people are insulted if asked to remove their shoes, so I put out a basket of very soft, comfy, clean, one-size-fits all socks so they will want to take off their shoes and get comfortable. You can lead a horse to water…..