Make indoor air quality work for you

The air you breathe can have a significant impact on your health and productivity in the workplace and at home. We are constantly faced with obstacles out of our control, but indoor air quality (IAQ) should not be one of them. IAQ not only affects patrons living or working in the specified environment, but also building and business owners as well. Air is typically polluted by gases or particles which can include carbon dioxide, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates, and microbial contaminants. The sources of the pollution can be from combustion, building materials, cleaning products, HVAC systems and many more. Air temperature and humidity are also taken into account. The health effects of IAQ can range from irritation to the respiratory system, influenza and even in an extreme case cancer. One better known consequence is Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), in which the building occupants suffer from irritation in the eye, nose, throat, or skin, coughing, wheezing, headache, asthma, and other general health problems. In a study of 100 US buildings, 23% of occupants regularly experienced at least two SBS symptoms. The hidden costs associated with SBS can be associated with increased sick days, lower productivity and higher medical costs. The EPA estimated that productivity losses from office workers due to SBS were 3%, ($60 billion in 1989) which would equate to $104 billion in 2008. William Fisk from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California estimated that a reduction in SBS by 20-50% would yield an estimated savings of $10-$100 billion, and could improve worker productivity by 0.5-5% with an estimated savings of $20-$200 billion. There are many ways to combat the negative effects of poor indoor air quality. By increasing the ventilation rate (the outdoor air supply) it will greatly reduce the concentration of many of the indoor pollutants. Reducing dampness and mold in the office or home will lessen the risk to respiratory conditions and asthma. Installing high efficiency filters on the air handling units will also contribute to better IAQ in both the office and home. Additionally, all LEED certified buildings must take this into account and it is addressed in the Indoor Environmental Quality section as both a prerequisite and additional credits. For example, mechanical ventilation systems as well as natural ventilation systems must meet or exceed the ASHRAE standards, low-emitting material selections are encouraged, and fulfilling optimal thermal comfort criteria will all contribute to achieving LEED certification. Optimal indoor air quality should no longer be a goal to strive for, but should become commonplace for every building. The health and economic impacts are undisputable, and the positive benefits weigh heavy for both the individual and decision makers. Zoe Reich, LEED AP BD+C, is the director of sustainability at Edwards & Zuck, P.C., New York, N.Y.