Leveraging air quality insights for healthier buildings

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a key focus for forward-thinking organisations due to its significant impact on various aspects of the workplace. There are several reasons why IAQ is considered a matter of strategic importance.

For forward-thinking organisations, improving IAQ is a matter of strategic importance. IAQ profoundly impacts employee health, well-being, engagement, and productivity. With talent more selective than ever amid intensifying competition and employees prioritising health in record numbers, overlooking indoor air is a mistake modern enterprises must pay attention to.

Most organisations’ facilities managers and building operators are responsible for enhancing IAQ. Doing so successfully hinges on access to accurate, timely, and actionably detailed air quality data. Facilities managers and building operators hold the key to unlocking the benefits of IAQ. But data alone is not enough. Many organisations get mired in ‘analysis paralysis,’ struggling to translate air quality metrics into actionable improvements.

Here’s what a graph of just one parameter – CO2 – from 80 devices or rooms could look like-

And if you have 100s of devices, it can start looking like this chaos – like a piece of abstract art no one can make sense of.

IAQ enhancement

We help you break free by turning air quality data into tangible steps for healthier buildings and a healthier bottom line. Imagine this: a 67 percent reduction in CO2, 32 percent in HVAC energy savings, and 32 percent more hours of excellent air quality per room monthly. We achieved that for a client with 20 buildings, leveraging advanced software and expert analysis to transform data into impactful interventions.

Through various strategic initiatives, organisations can generate a return on investment (ROI) from their indoor air quality (IAQ) data. Firstly, monitoring particulate matter trends allows for the early identification of degraded air filters. Organisations can proactively replace filters by tracking these trends, ensuring optimal air quality and preventing potential employee health issues. Utilising heatmaps to pinpoint Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) sources enables targeted interventions such as replacement or containment. This focused approach helps address specific IAQ challenges, improving air quality and employee well-being.

Enabling demand-controlled ventilation based on carbon dioxide (CO2) levels as an occupancy proxy enhances energy efficiency. Organisations can optimise energy consumption by adjusting ventilation rates in real-time according to occupancy while maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Optimising ventilation schedules by considering outdoor air quality factors into the equation further contributes to IAQ improvement. This data-driven approach ensures fresh air intake aligns with external conditions, enhancing overall air quality and employee comfort.

Promoting air quality awareness is facilitated by displaying live readings in high-traffic areas. This informs employees about the current IAQ status. It also encourages a collective commitment to maintaining a healthy workplace environment.

Shifting cleaning schedules to prevent conflicts that could worsen IAQ is another measure. Organisations can mitigate disturbances by aligning cleaning activities with IAQ data and maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Quantifying sustainability efforts related to air quality for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures reinforces the organisation’s commitment to responsible business practices. By transparently reporting on IAQ initiatives, companies can demonstrate their dedication to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.

In conclusion, incorporating these strategies improves IAQ and contributes to operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and the organisation’s overall reputation, thereby generating a tangible return on investment. The key is converting raw IAQ data into tailored interventions that systematically improve indoor environments. With the right expertise and solution partnerships, air quality monitoring efforts pay dividends in occupant health, productivity, and satisfaction.