Blog Post

Air quality has become a major concern since the spread of COVID-19. Kettler Forlines Homes has demonstrated a long-term commitment to indoor air quality in the homes we build. Our efforts to deliver superior results have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We’re proud to announce that Kettler Forlines Homes has received the Indoor airPLUS Leader Award…again!

For the second time, the EPA has chosen us to receive this prestigious award. Kettler Forlines Homes is one of just 10 homebuilders across the country who earned the 2020 Indoor airPLUS Leader Award, which was announced September 1. With indoor air frequently 2 to 5 times more polluted than what we breathe outdoors, we have committed to adhering to the program’s requirements in 100% of our homes.

ENERGY STAR + Indoor airPLUS

The Indoor airPLUS Program was developed to meet the growing consumer preference for homes with greater indoor air quality, instituting a checklist of practices and technologies that address these concerns. Indoor airPLUS builds on the foundation of EPA’s ENERGY STAR requirements for new homes. Homes must first comply with all of the ENERGY STAR certification requirements before being eligible for Indoor airPLUS. The program details specifications to provide comprehensive indoor air quality protections for homeowners—including selection and installation of moisture control systems, advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, combustion venting systems, radon-resistant construction techniques, and low-emitting building materials. 

Are you inhaling this?

Poor indoor air quality can lead to eye irritation, sore throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. People who suffer from asthma and allergies experience more severe symptoms.

Some of the common causes of health issues related to poor indoor air quality include:

• Fuel-burning combustion appliances
• Tobacco products
• Building materials and furnishings, such as cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products, newly installed flooring, upholstery, or carpet, and deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation
• Products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies
• Central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices
• Excess moisture

Take an interactive tour of the EPA’s indoor air quality house to see how much goes into protecting you and your family. From one room to the next, the air in your home can be polluted with allergens, like pet dander and dust, as well as toxins that include radon, carbon monoxide, mold, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

The right balance of airtight and airflow

Inadequate ventilation traps pollutants in your home. Today’s homes are carefully insulated to prevent drafts, which provides for an airtight environment, making ventilation absolutely critical to providing a healthy indoor environment. 

The EPA applauded our efforts to adhere to a higher standard for healthy homes. “Kettler Forlines Homes has championed the health benefits of Indoor airPLUS homes for over 10 years. Kettler Forlines understands the importance of how to message improved indoor air quality to their consumers and uses the Indoor airPLUS checklist to walk consumers through benefits not easily visible in the home.”

Dick Kettler, President of Kettler Forlines Homes, says indoor air quality is an extension of the company’s mission. “We build homes to give our homeowners lasting comfort, convenience, and quality. In order to meet that objective, with our Clean & Green Program, we have to put as much emphasis on indoor air quality and energy efficiency as in the home’s structure, design, and engineering.” Along with his brother, Tom Kettler, Dick is the third generation of Kettler homebuilders, a name that has always stood for excellence.

“This year, Americans across the country have been reminded about the importance of the indoor air quality in their homes. These 10 Indoor airPLUS Leader Award Winners are at the national forefront of building and verifying homes that provide unparalleled indoor air quality, energy efficiency, comfort, durability, and peace of mind,” said David Rowson, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environmental Environments Division.

See the difference 

We invite you to take a personal, private tour of our model home and the move-in ready homes for sale at The Reserve at Brightwell Crossing in Poolesville, MD. We can show you first-hand how every step of Indoor airPLUS contributes to a healthier, more comfortable, and safer home.