Health and Comfort

[ID: a small to medium sized building is shown in the middle. It has vegetation on the roof and and a gathering space and a callout “green buildings”. Solar panels on the roof have a callout “smart buildings”. Other callouts at the base of the building on the left and right are “healthy buildings” and “safe buildings”]

Multi-Week Series on “Five Fundamental Shifts Laying the Foundation for the Healthy Buildings Era”

01/02/2024

Gone are the days when costly equipment and highly trained technicians were the only way to know how clean the indoor air is. Now, anyone can use low-cost sensors to measure the air quality inside buildings to challenge decision makers with the data they themselves collect. This empowers employees and consumers to advocate for themselves with advances in their buildings.

exposure to 50% of outdoor air comes from being inside

Multi-Week Series on “Five Fundamental Shifts Laying the Foundation for the Healthy Buildings Era”: Fundamental Shift #4: Climate Shift

12/26/2023

In the 4th week of our series on “Five Fundamental Shifts for Healthy Buildings,” by Dr. Joseph Allen, we address a critical question: Are healthy buildings (with clean air) and green buildings (focused on energy efficiency) mutually exclusive goals? It’s an important question as noted in the Opening Address by IPCC Chair at the Ministerial Segment of the HLPF on SD, ECOSOC, General Assembly in July 2023.

A vector image showing a mixed race classroom being ventilated

Multi-Week Series on Joseph Allen’s “Five Fundamental Laying the Foundation for the Healthy Buildings Era: Fundamental Shift #2, Ventilation Standards

12/12/2023

Resuming our multi-week series, the second major shift in Joseph Allen’s “Five Fundamental Shifts Laying the Foundation for the Healthy Buildings Era” is in ventilation policy. This defines how much fresh air to bring into a building. On ASHRAE’s 62.1-2022 standard “Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality”, Dr. Allen argues, “’Acceptable’ should not be acceptable to any of us”.

A cutaway cartoon of a bunch of different office spaces on three different floors of a building. Each room has a little to a lot of gray smoke in it, indicating polluted air.

Lancet Covid-19 Commission finds IAQ standards too low

11/15/2023

the Lancet Covid-19 Commission released a report on current IAQ standards. They found they don’t protect against the spread of infectious diseases in the air. The report considers ventilation, filtration, and disinfection rates in five types of small and medium-sized spaces. These include office, restaurant dining room, elementary classroom, hotel lobby, and supermarket. The report states, “there is no debate that the current targets are too low”.

A person presenting as a Black Woman or assigned-female-at-birth doctor is smiling and holding a tablet. A computer screen and modern office are in the background.

An Interior Air Quality Threat: Respiratory Illness on the Rise in the US

11/07/2023

AirLens is being piloted right now to protect people’s health, and the timing couldn’t be better for the users of three buildings in the Portland (Oregon) Metro region. A CNN article published on Dec 16, 2022, the flu, RSV, and Covid-19 are on the rise in the US.

A tea kettle on a gas stove in a modern kitchen

Gas Stoves: Luxury Comes at a Cost to Health

11/07/2023

Gas stoves can harm health. This is because they release a range of pollutants into the air when burned. The main ones include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and formaldehyde.

An asian woman or assigned-female-at-birth person is using an inhaler (for asthma)

Reap the Health Benefits of Low-Cost Good Indoor Air Quality Practices

11/07/2023

There are lots of choices and actions to address indoor air quality impacts. Prevention is often the most helpful and lowest cost way to improve and protect indoor air quality.

A family presenting as mixed race (Black and African American Father and an Asian Mother) lounge on the couch. Two children play on the carpet of a modern apartment. Everyone is smiling. The Father is holding a computer and one of the children is looking up at the couch they're on.

Breathe Easy: The Intersection of BuildingLens and Portland’s Climate and Health Standards

11/07/2023

As the climate crisis gets worse, cities are pushing to lower their carbon footprints, improve living conditions, and enhance indoor air quality. For instance, Portland has proposed a policy to address climate and health standards for existing buildings. The policy intends to support tenants, especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

A person presenting as a Black woman or assigned-female-at-birth is on a cell phone at their desk. They are smiling and holding up their hand in an animated conversation. They are surrounded by white furniture. Windows behind them give way to greenery.

Indoor Air Quality and Productivity: A Small Business Owner’s Guide

11/07/2023

Workplace productivity is affected quite a lot by indoor air quality (IAQ). IAQ can affect employee health, morale, efficiency, and, in the end, a company’s profit margins.

Indoor air quality refers to how clean the air inside a building is. Ventilation, humidity, temperature, and the presence of pollutants all can have an impact.

Mostly blue sky in the bottom third of the image are beautiful purple flowers. One big one that takes up about half the height pops up in the bottom right.

Breathing Easier with Better Indoor Air Quality

11/07/2023

It’s well known that climate change impacts everything from polar ice caps to seasonal trends. It also silently impacts our health in ways we’re only starting to understand. Dr. Kari Nadeau, a key figure in the field of environmental health, is sounding the alarm on these under-recognized threats — most notably, the drastic alteration of pollen seasons and a staggering rise in wildfires.

This image is awash in smoke. Smoky trees can be seen in the foreground to the left. Farther back on the right side of the screen, a tree much farther away is backlit by the sun.

Fresh Indoors: Navigating the Challenges of Outdoor Air Pollutants

11/07/2023

Many people want to know, “which is more polluted, indoor or outdoor air?” The answer is, “It depends.”

People presenting as a heterosexual mixed race couple and their female-bodied child are sitting on a couch wearing masks and looking very serious.

High-Risk Populations and The Perils of Poor Indoor Air Quality

11/07/2023

Depending on the type of pollutant, and how much of it there is and how long one is exposed, the outcomes can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening situations. Even the most robust among us can be felled by carbon monoxide poisoning within minutes.

However, it is crucial to understand that some people are at a higher risk. Knowing who is at a higher risk and why can help us address the needs of the most vulnerable.