| Effective Leakage Area (ELA) | ELA is the whole house leakage area at a pressure difference of 4 Pascals assuming a single flow point with a smooth, rounded area (Discharge coefficient = 1.0). |
| Electret | A plastic material that carries a permanent static charge, used in some air filters. |
| Electrical Cord | Perform this simple safety check. |
| Electrically-Commutated Motor (ECM) | A higher-cost type of variable-speed motor that utilizes electricity efficiently, especially at low speeds. |
| Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) | The electrical and magnetic energy surrounding electrical wires and appliances. |
| Electrostatic Air Filter | An air filter composed of plastic materials that capture particulate pollutants using static electricity. See also electret. |
| Electrostatic Precipitator | An air filter that generates a high voltage which causes particulates to become electrically charged and cling to metal plates having an opposite charge. |
| Endocrine disruptors | The term “endocrine disruptors” is used to describe substances that are not produced in the body but act by mimicking or antagonizing natural hormones. |
| Energy-Recovery Ventilator (ERV) | A balanced ventilation device that transfers both heat and humidity between the exhaust and supply air streams. |
| Engineered Wood | Engineered wood has become a popular choice for environmentally preferable flooring. |
| Enthalpy | The total amount of heat contained in air, the sum of the sensible heat and the latent heat. |
| Environmental Agents | What the scientists mean when using this term. |
| Environmental Illness (EI) | A medical condition involving hypersensitivities to a wide variety of common air and food contaminants at very low levels. |
| Epigenetics | The development and maintenance of an organism is orchestrated by a set of chemical reactions that switch parts of the genome off and on at strategic times and locations. Epigenetics is the study of these reactions and the factors that influence them.
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| Equivalent Leakage Area (EqLA) | EqLA is the whole house leakage area at a pressure difference of 10 Pascals assuming a single flow area with a sharp edged orifice (Discharge coefficient = 0.61). |
| Equivalent Length | The length of straight duct that would have the same resistance to airflow as a fitting. |
| ERV | Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) that exchange moisture between the two air streams.
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| Evaporation | The changing of a liquid to a gas or vapor, requiring heat. |
| Exchange Rate | The rate at which indoor air is replaced with outdoor air. |
| Exfiltration | Air leaving a house through random holes in the structure. |
| Exhaust Air | The air leaving a house through a ventilation system. See also supply air. |
| Exhaust Grille | A grille through which stale air leaves a room. See also supply grille. |
| Exhaust Ventilation | A general-ventilation strategy that uses an exhaust fan to remove air from a house. An equal volume of make-up air enters either by way of through-the-wall vents, through a fresh-air duct connected to a forced-air heating/cooling system, or through random holes in the structure of the house. |
| Exhaust-Only Ventilation | Ventilation strategy that uses one or more fans to exhaust stale air that is replaced by outdoor air entering through passive inlets and/or random leaks. See central-exhaust ventilation. |
| Extended-Surface Filter | An air filter configured to have a large amount of surface area to minimize resistance to airflow. See also medium-efficiency filter. |
| Extermination | Extermination is one of the components of integrated pest management. |
