Air purification
Breathing clean air is critical for good health. While Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG) investing has been popular for the last ten years or so, only recently has “social” been elevated to the same distinction as “environment.”
Companies recognize employees as valuable (and expensive) assets to their businesses; and leadership is beginning to invest in facilitating better office experiences. While “green” buildings once referred only to energy efficiency, today “green” is understood to include “the quality of life of occupants in design, construction, and operation” (World Green Building Council).
And now, with COVID-19 and what the virus means for the future of offices, quality of life for employees has never mattered more. With an increased awareness on quality of life, comes an amplified emphasis on air quality.
The air quality challenge
With air quality, often the challenge for building owners and facilities managers is determining what is in their buildings’ air. Subsequently, the issue becomes finding ways to improve those air levels. Owners and managers need a way to track and study their buildings’ air, in order to improve the air quality inside.
Furthermore, we believe that in order to reopen safely and regain confidence, building owners, managers, and tenants will want to be reassured that their indoor air quality is as healthy as possible.
With COVID-19 and what the virus means for the future of offices, quality of life for employees has never mattered more.
Development in sensor technology
Sensor technology allows buildings to have better control over air quality. Sensors are more affordable than ever before, and even more accurate. They provide peace of mind through continuous monitoring, insights, and recommendations. Monitoring the air can detect risky environments prone to bacteria, mold, and viruses.
The latest air quality monitors can even measure the level of aerosols from human respiration. Facilities managers can then create Air Quality Profiles for their buildings, and verify proper ventilation, humidity, janitorial practices, and operations.
Filtration
In this time of COVID, research suggests that filtration of recirculated air may be effective in reducing the transmission of airborne infectious diseases, while also maintaining the need for energy efficiency from not having to bring in 100% outside air. Filters remove dust, vapors, bacteria, and fungi, and also effectively capture viral particles spread by droplet nuclei.
Research from the Center for Active Design suggests that under certain conditions, using recirculated air with HEPA filters reduces particulate concentration for indoor air similar to full outside air systems. ASHRAE’s recommendation is to use a filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13, but a MERV 14 (or better) filter is preferred. The filter choice needs to take the capabilities of the HVAC systems into consideration.
Purification
Air purifiers can remove aerosol (which can carry viral pathogens), pollution particulates, and more. An important study released by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that slight increases in pollution exposure could have serious coronavirus-related consequences. The difference of one unit of fine particulate pollution in the air may make a person 15% more susceptible to coronavirus complications (New York Times).
HEPA and medical-grade air filters will capture 99% of particles, including aerosols and industrial pollution particulates, to supplement the building HVAC and improve indoor air quality locally.
How the landscape is changing
COVID-19 is changing the office building landscape. While building owners and facilities managers were once able to be reactive to the air quality issues in their buildings, the pandemic has forced a focus on being proactive. People are focusing on returning to a safe work environment, and they are looking to their building’s management to provide that reassurance.
As the public’s understanding about the value of good air quality continues to grow, we will see new developments in the ways buildings emphasize health and wellness.
Sensors, HVAC units, and purification solutions work in conjunction by connecting in the cloud. When building owners and managers are equipped with a wealth of information about their building, they can feel more in control ensuring a safe environment when people return to buildings. Good air quality also increases the value of the building, guaranteeing more efficient operations and maintenance.
As the public’s understanding about the value of good air quality continues to grow, we will see new developments in the ways buildings emphasize health and wellness. The indoor environment plays a critical role in our overall well-being. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, and buildings have the unique ability to positively or negatively influence our health. It is essential we focus on improving air quality in our buildings now—and then use those learnings to construct more efficient buildings in the future.
