Indoor air quality, which is directly affected by cleaning and disinfection practices, confers numerous benefits to schools, businesses, and facility occupants.
Why Your Organization Should Focus on Improving Indoor Air Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a Clean Air in Buildings Challenge in response to President Biden's National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
As part of the challenge, the EPA listed one of the four primary advantages of improved indoor air quality (IAQ)--a reduction in disease transmission--as an end goal and motivator for organizations to get involved.
Notably, the EPA did not mention several other health-related benefits of improved indoor air quality, including:
- Maximizing profits.
- Increasing occupant life-span and;
- Improving occupant mood and morale.
Stopping the Spread of Disease
Improving IAQ and airflow can reduce the transmission of airborne and respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 and influenza, and eliminate symptoms and complications of sick building syndrome, including:
- Allergies, headaches, and asthma.
- Nausea.
- Liver, kidney, and nervous system damage.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Lung disease and;
- Cancer.
Further, according to The White House;
[...] research shows changing the air in a room multiple times an hour with filtered or clean outdoor air – using a window fan, by using higher MERV filters in a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, using portable air-cleaning devices, and even just opening a window – can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission – with studies showing five air changes an hour reduce transmission risk by 50 percent.
And, improving indoor air has benefits beyond COVID-19: it will reduce the risk of getting the flu, a common cold, or other diseases spread by air, and lead to better overall health outcomes.
Maximizing Profits
Sustainably improving IAQ through improved ventilation and filtration has been shown to dramatically impact:
- Property values.
- Rental prices.
- Maintenance costs.
- Occupant productivity, and;
- Health expenses.
Two studies examining the cost-benefit of improved air quality in office buildings in Hong Kong also determined that investments in higher-efficiency primary air filters for HVAC systems, leading to a decrease in indoor PM concentrations, can result in net cost savings for employers who are also responsible for building maintenance costs.
As a result, using Hong Kong’s air quality and costs estimated at the time of that study (2004), employers could expect to find reduced health expenses by about $250 U.S. for every 10 µg/m3 decrease in PM10 level, with the majority of the savings coming from a reduced number of activity delays.
Additionally, society can reduce overall health expenses by about $1,820 US (in 2007 dollars) for every 10 µg/m3 decrease in PM10.
Fisk estimated the benefit-to-cost ratios for the expected gains in productivity due to reductions in health effects by 1) increasing ventilation rates, and 2) increasing filter system efficiency, to be 14:1 and 8:1, respectively.
Overall, these studies concluded that demonstrable net cost savings in employee sick time and healthcare costs for the employer could be achieved.
Increased Life Expectancy
Air pollution impacts human life expectancy more than many well-known afflictions and diseases, including alcohol, HIV, and drug addiction.
According to the University of Chicago;
Globally, the AQLI reveals that particulate pollution reduces average life expectancy by 1.8 years, making it the greatest global threat to human health.
By comparison, first-hand cigarette smoke leads to a reduction in global average life expectancy of about 1.6 years. Other risks to human health have even smaller effects: Alcohol and drugs reduce life expectancy by 11 months; unsafe water and sanitation take off 7 months; and HIV/AIDS, 4 months.
Conflict and terrorism take off 22 days.
So, the impact of particulate pollution on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, twice that of alcohol and drug use, three times that of unsafe water, five times that of HIV/AIDS, and more than 25 times that of conflict and terrorism.
Air pollution reduces global life expectancy by nearly two years
Indoor air pollution can range as high as five times worse than outdoor air pollution.
Given that adults in the U.S. spend well over 90% of their day inside, either at the office, school, shopping, or some other activity, improving indoor air quality can significantly increase their health and life expectancy.
Occupant Mood and Morale
IAQ directly impacts occupant wellness and health and can positively or negatively affect mood and morale, which corresponds directly to productivity.
Investing in increased IAQ has a clear return on investment.
According to one study;
A research study by World Green Building Council estimates the reduced absenteeism through illness to be worth $34 per sq m (₹ 2220 per sqm).
Improved Staff Productivity = > $410 per sq. m
Studies have pegged that improved IAQ could result in an 8 - 10% boost in employee productivity.
The World Green Building Council estimates that if staff productivity improves by even a conservative 5% because of improved IAQ, that alone would be worth $410 per sq m. (₹ 26,185 per sq m)
Another study by Harvard calculates the benefit to a company as a result of improved cognitive scores and decision-making performance.
According to the study, when ventilation was increased from 20 cfm/person to 40 cfm/person, it corresponded to a $6500 change in a typical office worker’s productivity.
Possible ROI = 120%
Takeaway
Green cleaning with high-tech equipment run by trained service providers will help increase IAQ while eliminating common sources of indoor air pollution.
According to Steve Ashkin of the Ashkin Group;
Green Cleaning is the best way the professional cleaning industry can improve IAQ.
Green Cleaning solutions contain low- or no-VOCs. Volatile Organic Compounds negatively impact IAQ.
Properly maintained, high-performance vacuum cleaners, dusting with microfiber and similar materials that capture dust, and installing impurity-catching soft entryway mats, have all helped our industry protect indoor air.
If you would like more information regarding the effectiveness of high-performance infection prevention and control measures, or if you would like to schedule a free, no-obligation on-site assessment of your facility's custodial needs, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno, CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia, CA, or Santa Clarita, CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Palmdale, CA, or Lancaster, CA, call (661) 371-4756
