Health and Comfort

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

November 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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

November 7, 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.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: ASHRAE Redefines Air Quality Again

November 7, 2023

With colder weather setting in across the country, people are closing their windows to fresh air and opening another window to poor air quality. From parents to property managers, at this time of year, it is vital to prioritize the well-being of your occupants.

Enter ASHRAE (Association of Society of Heating, Cooling, Refrigerations, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Standard 241, released in July 2023: “Control of Infectious Aerosols.” This new standard creates rigorous requirements to reduce the risk of disease transmission. It addresses exposure to infectious aerosols in both new and existing buildings and major renovations. Designed to promote more healthy indoor spaces, Standard 241 offers a robust response to the present challenges of infectious diseases in shared spaces.

A diverse group of people of different races, ages, and abilities (for instance, one person is on crutches) are all standing together smiling.

BuildingLens is Bridging the Gap to Clean Air and the Clean Energy Economy for Priority Populations and Property Managers

November 7, 2023

The quest for clean air and a livable planet is an effort that benefits everyone to some degree, but not everyone has equal access to being a part of making this dream real. BuildingLens bridges this gap for priority populations. We center priority populations’ needs so that our benefits really can flow to anyone.

A picture of 3 kids in school. A very young child who presents as a Black girl is in focus in the middle of this photo, smiling and looking right into the camera while holding a pencil over a notebook at a school desk. In the foreground is a blurry person who presents as a very young Black girl and is also smiling, looking into the camera and holding a pen. In the background, a person who presents as a young white boy is looking down at the desk.

School Safety 101: Ventilation’s Key Role

November 7, 2023

In the struggle against the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, the role of ventilation in indoor spaces continues to be vital. A 2022 study from Italy’s Marche region sheds light on a key aspect of this: how more ventilation can impact the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor spaces in schools. This study explores how fresh air can be a potent partner in efforts to keep students and staff safe.