IEQ
System Overview
Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors and as a result their comfort, health, and work performance rely heavily on indoor environmental quality (IEQ).1 The indoor environment of an office facility is affected by a combination of conditions:
- Thermal (temperature)
- Lighting (amount and color)
- Acoustical (noises and volume)
- Ventilation (air content and quality)
The personal ability to control these conditions leads to higher occupant satisfaction. Since IEQ is embedded in all aspects of building operations, any changes to building design or operational practices can have significant impacts on interior conditions. Thoughtful integration of an IEQ strategy can lead to healthier occupants and positively impact vision, mood, and comfort factors, thereby increasing performance, satisfaction and reducing absenteeism and healthcare costs.
1.EPA Buildings and their Impact on the Environment: A Statistical Summary
IEQ Components
- Facility-Wide
- Interior
-
Green Cleaning
In order to reduce exposure to potentially hazardous chemical, biological and particulate contamination, implementation of a green cleaning maintenance plan is essential. The green cleaning plan should specify the purchase and use of non-toxic, low or no-VOC cleaning equipment and materials as well as assess the effectiveness of the custodial staff. The plan should integrate into building policies and standard operating procedures and ensure the upkeep of building materials and systems is performed in an environmentally sensitive manner for the benefit of both the environment and the occupants within the space.
Bundles: Low Upfront Cost IEQ Renovation Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Lighting
A properly illuminated environment will show unsightly blemishes and dirt accumulations, making it easier to identify ineffective cleaning strategies.Poorly maintained lighting fixtures may provide inefficient illumination.Dirty fixtures may provide less light to the space.Water
Green Cleaning plans help avoid toxins and pesticides from entering the building’s water stream that eventually leaves as sewer discharge.Moisture control measures should be taken as part of the maintenance plan to avoid mold and mildewUse non-toxic bathroom and kitchen cleaning products to protect water quality.HVAC
Regular inspection and maintenance of filters will ensure longer equipment lifespan and a cleaner and more comfortable indoor environment.High MERV rated filters trap more airborne particulates but may increase the overall energy demand of the fan system. -
IEQ Management Plan
An IEQ management plan should encompass strategies to maintain air quality during construction or renovation projects, integrate a green cleaning and integrated pest management program, and incorporate occupant comfort feedback for continuous evaluation. Renovation projects can introduce dust particulates, VOCs, or mold throughout the building which may lead to health issues during occupancy. Pre-occupancy flush outs and proper management of building materials (i.e. avoiding prolonged water and particulate contamination) can limit human exposure during use. Integrated pest management (IPM) involves managing indoor pests in an economically preferable way that protects human health and surrounding environment through utilization of least-toxic chemical pesticides in targeted areas for a targeted species.
Bundles: Low Upfront Cost IEQ Renovation Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Water
Moisture in buildings is a major contributor to mold growth and poor indoor air quality. Take preventive and remedial measures to reduce indoor air moisture content before and after occupancy.HVAC
Flush-outs after any construction or renovation project will remove gases and particulates that could otherwise be harmful to occupant wellbeing.Renovation projects should have separate ventilation systems to avoid contaminating other areas of the building.Flush-outs require additional energy and demand on the ventilation system, often for several days. -
Entryway Systems
Up to 24 pounds of dirt can be tracked in by just 1,000 people during a 20-day work period, costing on average $500 to remove per pound.1 Dust, dirt and pollutants can be carried into buildings on people’s footwear, contributing to contaminated air and reducing the life of interior flooring. An entryway dirt capture or walk-off system (such as long mats or floor grates) at exterior doors collects particulates that would otherwise be inhaled by occupants or need to be cleaned from the building interior by custodial staff.
1. The Importance of Entryway Matting
Bundles: Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Low Upfront Cost IEQ Renovation Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Water
When dirt is captured at the entrance, less water is needed for cleaning elsewhere in the building.HVAC
Entryway systems provide source control for dirt and dust for the outdoors, thereby reducing strain on air filtration systems. -
HVAC & Natural Ventilation
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system regulates much of the thermal conditions within the office space. Temperature, humidity, air speed, and air quality influence indoor comfort and health. Increasing ventilation rates can improve performance on cognitive work and reduce illness symptoms by replacing contaminated air with filtered air from the outdoors. Fluctuations of only 2-3 degrees from optimal air temperature can result in a measurable decline in performance.1 Humidity must be controlled for occupant comfort and health, especially mold growth prevention. The HVAC system requires energy to perform these functions. Balance personalized occupant comfort with energy consumption, thermal controls, and frequent feedback cycles to create a successful strategy. During favorable outdoor conditions, natural ventilation can be mixed or as an alternative to mechanical HVAC systems.
Maintenance of HVAC mechanical components, including the regular changing of filters and duct cleaning, is critical to maintain both IAQ and HVAC system efficiency. See more in the O&M Impacts section.
1. Impacts of Indoor Environments on Human Performance and Productivity
Bundles: Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Lighting
Waste heat from lighting fixtures may require additional HVAC cooling loads to bring the room conditions to a comfortable level.HVAC
Creating a comfortable workspace does not have to require extra energy. Explore the <a href="/BuildingSystem?categoryId=2">HVAC</a> whole building system.Design air distribution and return air components of the ventilation system to promote air circulation and comfort in the occupied space.Poor outdoor air quality may create more consolidated and harmful indoor issues.Consider locating external ventilation air intakes away from pollutant sources such as idling cars or garbage dumpsters. -
Acoustics
Acoustical comfort is achieved when the workplace provides appropriate noise levels for interaction, confidentiality, and concentrative work. This does not mean that the space should be silent, however, as both planned and spontaneous interactions are necessary for team building and relationship development. Sound can be managed through a combination of absorption, blocking, and covering strategies to create a productive indoor environment.
- Absorption technologies include acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting, curtains or hanging partitions that mitigate the traveling of sound waves.
- Blocking strategies involve interrupting, through conscious space designs such as conference rooms and zoning, sound traveling from noise-generating sources.
- Covering acoustic strategies mask workspaces that are too quiet to be acoustically comfortable with low and uniform levels of background noise.
Bundles: Optimize Occupant Comfort Optimize Occupant Comfort
System Relationships
Lighting
Lighting strategies can be used to identify separate acoustic zones. For example, brightly lit corridors may facilitate spontaneous conversations while task lighting areas identify focused working zones.Improperly ballast function can lead to a distracting “buzzing” sound. Check for noise levels when inspecting light function or replacing bulbs.HVAC
Sound boots integrated into HVAC ductwork can help control the transfer of sound from one area to another.Overly noisy air diffusers, fan-powered VAV boxes, or other equipment can be distracting in the workplace.Ductwork provides an avenue for sound to travel from space to space and may cause unwanted transfer of conversations. -
Lighting
The lighting system plays a significant role in the overall indoor environmental quality of the office space. Evenly distributed interior lighting tailored to specific functions, through a combination of indirect and direct light fixtures supplemented with natural light from windows and light shelves, creates a comfortable and adequately lit environment to work. Optimizing daylighting and providing views to the outdoors has further demonstrated to increase productivity and reduce absenteeism.1 Integration of shading and glare reduction strategies avoids eye-strain while individual lighting controls and task lighting gives occupants the ability to control their lighting conditions.
1. Milton, D.K., P.M. Glencross, and M.D. Walters, "Risk of sick leave associated with outdoor air supply rate, humidification, and occupant complaints". Indoor Air, 2000. 10(4): p. 212-21.
System Relationships
Lighting
A lighting strategy that supports a healthy and productive indoor environment can also save on energy consumption.Task lighting, if left on for long periods while no one is around (such as overnight), can waste large amounts of energy. Consider connecting task lighting to occupancy sensors.HVAC
Waste heat from lighting fixtures may require additional HVAC cooling loads to bring the room conditions to a comfortable level. -
Plants
Plants not only reduce stormwater runoff, they also cut energy costs by reducing heat island effects – and that’s just when they’re outside the building. Plants offer many health benefits inside the building as well including the ability to clean air and reduce psychological symptoms, such as workplace fatigue. Make sure you know the official policy on plants in your workplace.
For more information about plants in the workplace, check out the links below
- The International Green Construction Code has information on indoor plants for offices, including suggested plant types.
- Building Biophilia: Connecting People to Nature in Building Design
-
Controllability
Occupant comfort and satisfaction can be optimized by providing high levels of individual or group controllability with regard to air flow, lighting, and sound. Thermal conditions, including temperature, humidity, and air speed, should allow for personalized adjustments through integration of individual thermostat controls, localized diffusers, or operable windows (which allow changes in both temperature, air speed and air composition). Similarly, task lighting or overhead light dimming at workstations creates flexibility for occupants to alter the illumination of their environment.
Bundles: Optimize Occupant Comfort Optimize Occupant Comfort
System Relationships
Lighting
Task lighting and dimming controls allow users to adjust their luminous environment, often saving energy in the process.Provide ample training to occupants on the advantages and opportunities they have to control light levels.Lighting controls need occasional recalibration.Water
Access to drinking water is important for overall occupant health and well-being.HVAC
Thermal controls and zoning can reduce overall energy consumption while providing occupant thermal comfort.Carbon dioxide sensors and low-emitting materials contribute to improved indoor environmental quality.Consider the amount of thermal customization needed and provide training on how to properly adjust any conditions.Operable windows and mixed-mode ventilation strategies can reduce the amount of energy needed to condition the workspace. -
Furniture and Furnishings
Furniture and furnishings affect IEQ through the ergonomics they provide, the air contaminants or toxins they produce, and the flexibility and modularity they allow. A sustainable workplace incorporates furniture that is personally adjustable and flexible enough to support multiple tasks. Furniture layout should optimize daylight, views and air flow for occupants, while furniture selections should emit little to no air contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furniture layout and selections must comply with all regulatory and statutory requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Bundles: Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Lighting
Light-colored furnishings can reflect light around the space, creating a brighter environment that promotes psychological well-being.Translucent wall partitions allow access to views to the outdoors from deeper in the interior space.Furniture selection and location is important not only for IEQ but also affect the overall lighting strategy. Consider locating workstations away from windows to allow more daylight to enter.Water
Prevent prolonged moisture exposure to building materials and furniture which will cause the growth of mold and mildew.HVAC
Furniture blocking air ventilation ducts will require the HVAC unit to expend more energy to make the space comfortable. -
Low-Emitting Materials
Building materials and components, including but not limited to paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, agrifiber products, flooring systems and office equipment, are all potential indoor air contamination sources. These contaminants can be odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful to the health, comfort and well-being of occupants. Specification of low-emitting materials is important in creating a healthy indoor environment free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as urea formaldehyde. Consider flushing out, with excessive ventilation, newly finished or furnished spaces before they are (re)inhabited to remove any pollutants.
Bundles: Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Optimize Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency
System Relationships
Lighting
Paints, colorings, and flooring should be free of harmful chemicals, such as VOCs and formaldehyde.HVAC
Low-emitting materials release fewer pollutants into the air, which in return lessens the need to over ventilate the space.Balance the relationship between ventilation-related energy and indoor air quality. -
Lighting
The lighting system plays a significant role in the overall indoor environmental quality of the office space. Evenly distributed interior lighting tailored to specific functions, through a combination of indirect and direct light fixtures supplemented with natural light from windows and light shelves, creates a comfortable and adequately lit environment to work. Optimizing daylighting and providing views to the outdoors has further demonstrated to increase productivity and reduce absenteeism.1 Integration of shading and glare reduction strategies avoids eye-strain while individual lighting controls and task lighting gives occupants the ability to control their lighting conditions.
1. Milton, D.K., P.M. Glencross, and M.D. Walters, "Risk of sick leave associated with outdoor air supply rate, humidification, and occupant complaints". Indoor Air, 2000. 10(4): p. 212-21.
System Relationships
Lighting
A lighting strategy that supports a healthy and productive indoor environment can also save on energy consumption.Task lighting, if left on for long periods while no one is around (such as overnight), can waste large amounts of energy. Consider connecting task lighting to occupancy sensors.HVAC
Waste heat from lighting fixtures may require additional HVAC cooling loads to bring the room conditions to a comfortable level.
Provided By
GSA Sustainable Facilities Tool |
Introduction |
Green Products Compilation |
Contact |
Sitemap |
Give Feedback
| Privacy Policy
| Adobe Reader
Site Developed by Noblis, Inc. | Current Site Published: 2/8/2013 10:58:00 AM | Take the survey