Increasing Air Quality Can Increase Productivity
It is well known that indoor air quality can vary from 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor quality. Humans spend more than 90% of their time indoors on average. Knowing that difficulties connected to indoor air quality (IAC) account for at least 1.6 million fatalities annually is a very alarming statistic. This might seem insignificant, especially when compared to the 3.4 million fatalities annually brought on by outdoor air pollution. Now, for the majority of institutions, the risk of serious health consequences and a variety of diseases is unavoidable.
Also associated with decreased productivity and lost revenue is air quality.
In a recent Harvard study, participants who were placed in an improved green environment performed 100% better on cognitive tests than those in a subpar environment. In a separate Harvard trial, the researchers split the workers into two rooms, one with filthy air and the other with pure indoor air. The outcomes were astounding. They saw a 10% rise in productivity from the employees who were exposed to clean indoor air, translating into an improvement in output per employee of $6500.
Additionally, due to poor indoor air quality at work, employee absenteeism has increased by 30%. This entails not only that employees will take more sick days as a result of the air quality, but also that there will be a productivity loss, which results in a loss of $1.8 million for a business with at least 1000 employees.
How to make rooms with better air quality and greater productivity.
- Collect Air Data: It is nearly impossible to determine whether your air quality is safe or contaminated with just your naked eye. Use indoor air quality monitoring to detect any indoor air pollution, including dust, organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, and more, to correct this. These gases pose a major threat to people's health.
- Control Pollutant Sources: This involves making an effort to completely eradicate indoor contaminants. Pollution may be produced by routine activities such as painting, foot traffic, and machine use. Despite this, major indoor contaminations can happen due to chemical leaks, filter blowouts, and other atypical events. In the event that the source of the pollution can be found and later eliminated, you must remove it from the premises. If doing so is impractical, you must take the appropriate safety measures to seal the sources and store them away from people.
- Increase Ventilation: This one might seem the most obvious, yet it's also one of the least valued. By simply allowing more outside air to enter your building, you may easily increase the quality of the air within. It's important to note that, in addition to raising ventilation to remove contaminated air, your energy usage will also go up. This justifies the necessity of air quality monitoring. Most spaces do not need additional ventilation, but others need, such as production facilities and gyms. The proper information is the only way to determine whether you require additional ventilation.
- Keep an eye on Filters: The filters in your HVAC system have a significant impact on the quality of the air you breathe. You must ensure that your air handling unit system has the appropriate MERV rating if you want to considerably reduce pollution. For greater filtration effectiveness, these sorts of filters can be justified in healthcare institutions.
- Ensure All Spaces Are Clean: Unexpected items in your home, including as carpets, furniture, and upholstery, can collect airborne contaminants. You could achieve your goals by employing a vacuum with a HEPA filter. By maintaining your indoor levels on a regular basis, you can dramatically reduce your pollutant levels.
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