How Commercial Indoor Air Quality Impacts Your Business

One way to help ensure a healthy environment for employees, guests, and customers is through improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the majority of Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors — with many of those hours spent inside an office environment.¹ The onset of the pandemic has increased people’s awareness of the quality of the air inside their homes and places of employment. According to a recent study, over 90% of U.S. consumers reported that indoor air quality is important in the prevention of COVID-19, while 74% of surveyed office workers reported feeling more comfortable returning to a workplace that has IAQ protocols in place.²

COVID-19 aside, EPA research reveals that indoor environments sometimes have levels of pollutants even higher than levels found outdoors.¹ These pollutants can pose a risk to occupant health, and can have a significant impact on business performance and profitability. In fact, EPA’s Report to Congress estimates that poor indoor air quality is costing the U.S. billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and medical care.¹

Let’s take a closer look at the ways poor commercial IAQ can impact your business, employees and occupants.

Bacteria, Viruses, Mold and Allergens

Tiny bacteria, viruses, fungi such as mold, dust mites, pollens and other allergens can be brought into the building by people, infiltration or ventilation air. These indoor biological pollutants can be harmful, cause allergic symptoms, and are responsible for triggering asthma episodes in an estimated 15 million Americans.¹

Impact of Indoor Air Pollutants

Studies show that indoor air pollution significantly impairs the productivity of occupants, and is a leading contributor to sick building syndrome which leads to increased absenteeism in the workplace.^3,2 Good IAQ, on the other hand, has been shown to increase productivity and result in fewer lost work days.¹

IAQ Affects Employee Satisfaction

Studies indicate a rise in employee satisfaction among workers whose employers make an investment in improving indoor air quality.⁴ One Harvard study showed that better IAQ also leads to better employee performance, including a 61% improvement in cognitive performance and a 10% improvement in productivity.⁵

IAQ Delivers ROI

Research by the World Green Building Council reveals that buildings can save as much as 79% on energy bills by adopting good IAQ protocols. Another study by Carnegie Mellon estimates that businesses who prioritize improving IAQ can expect to see an average 120% return on their investment.⁵ This becomes especially apparent when you take into consideration the cost of lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and lower employee satisfaction that come with having poor air quality.

How to Improve Commercial IAQ: It Starts with Your HVAC

Even the most well-run commercial buildings and spaces can be vulnerable to poor indoor air quality. So, what can your business do? Start by making sure your commercial building has adequate and properly functioning ventilation, and that no air vents or grills are blocked.

One of the most effective ways to improve IAQ is by making sure your building’s HVAC system is working properly — and is thoroughly and regularly cleaned. If left unchecked, HVAC air ducts can become conduits for indoor biological pollutants, as well as dirt and moisture that encourage microbes to thrive. As such, the EPA recommends that businesses adopt preventative maintenance programs to ensure their HVAC systems are functioning properly.¹

Along with improved occupant health, regularly maintaining and cleaning commercial HVAC systems and air ducts can also reduce energy consumption by as much 15% — which translates into significant savings on your energy bill.⁶ Last but certainly not least, cleaning air ducts helps make sure your HVAC system is working the way it should to provide a comfortable working environment with optimal temperature and humidity.

Professional Commercial Air Duct Cleaning

When it comes to properly cleaning and maintaining HVAC air ducts, it’s a good idea to go with a professional commercial cleaning service that is certified in air duct cleaning.

COIT’s commercial air duct cleaning technicians are thoroughly trained to meet the high industry standards of the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA), and use state-of-the-art HEPA-Aire^TM vacuum and Aire-Sweep^TM compressor systems to transfer harmful air duct pollutants into a contained filtration system. COIT’s air duct pros also use advanced air whips and brushes to thoroughly clean ductwork, plenum, cooling coils, and air handlers — and back results with the industry strongest 100%-satisfaction guarantee.

When it comes to the health of your employees, guests, customers and occupants — and your bottom line — don’t neglect your indoor air quality. And don’t leave your commercial air duct cleaning to just anyone. Your people deserve clean air, and proven professionals committed to your health and satisfaction.

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-06055-9

2. https://learn.kaiterra.com/en/resources/indoor-air-quality-monitoring-guide 3. https://hbr.org/2016/09/air-pollution-is-making-office-workers-less-productive 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7410200/ 5. https://blog.corenetglobal.org/blog/future-proof-your-business-with-good-indoor-air-quality/ 6. https://www.ferguson.com/content/trade-talk/business-tips/know-how-much-HVAC-service-lowers-heating-ac-bill