Indoor comfort
Improving productivity, healthy environment, privacy
There can hardly be anything more important than health and wellbeing. In dwellings or at the workplace, a number of factors play a role: some figures
Indoor air quality: this can be indicated by low concentrations of CO2 and pollutants, and high ventilation rates. Research has demonstrated that productivity improvements of 8-11% are not uncommon as a result of better air quality.
Thermal comfort: this is very closely related to IAQ and it has also a significant impact on the occupation satisfaction. Studies indicated in offices a 10% reduction in performance at 30°C and 15°C. Another study in a controlled setting indicated a reduction in performance of 4% at cooler temperatures, and a reduction of 6% at warmer ones.
Daylighting and lighting: several studies have shown that the wellbeing of daylight as a result of proximity to windows, views to the outside (and preferably to green space or nature) have a positive efect in terms of satisfaction and health of the occupants. Research demonstrated that view quality and daylighting explained 6,5% of the variation in sick leave. Neuroscientists suggested that office workers with windows received 173% more white light exposure and slept an average of 46 minutes more at night. Workers without windows reported physical problems and vitality, problems in sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction.
It is alarming that still today one out of six Europeans reports living in a healthy building.
Reports on buildings and their impact on people's health
The European Health Barometer Report, 2017
WGBC on Health,Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices
