Facilities will be built with an appreciation of the importance of providing high quality indoor environments for all users. Many of us have adapted to the inner realm as our "natural" environment. IEQ encompasses indoor air quality (IAQ), which focuses on airborne contaminants as well as other health, safety and comfort issues such as aesthetics, drinking water monitoring, ergonomics, acoustics, lighting and electromagnetic frequency levels. IEQ improvements to an existing building can occur at any time during the use of a building. During the renovation, design and development process, projects need a comprehensive integrated perspective that aims to:

• Facilitating IEQ quality through good design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance practices;

• Capitalizing on aesthetic and well-being concerns, such as the importance of scenic views or the integration of natural and man-made elements;

• Providing thermal comfort with a maximum degree of personal control over temperature and air flow;

• Providing an adequate quantity and quality of ventilation and outdoor air intake to ensure acceptable indoor air quality;

• Prevention of airborne bacteria, mold and fungi, as well as radon, by designing the building envelope to account for the proper management of external and internal sources of moisture and by heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems that are efficient in indoor humidity control;

• Use of materials that do not emit pollutants or that have at least low emissions;

• Ensuring acoustic intimacy and comfort by using sound-absorbing materials and isolating the equipment;

• Controlling nuisance odors by isolating and removing contaminants and by carefully selecting cleaning products. Pursuing energy-efficient strategies to eliminate noxious odors and recover the energy used in managing the indoor environment;

• Creating a high-performance light environment through the careful integration of natural and artificial light sources;

• Providing high quality drinking water;

The buildings will primarily provide a healthy environment, free of disease-causing elements. A healthy building is about both physical and mental health. Healthy buildings provide an environment where the user can live and work without health risks.