Fresh and clean air in offices – one of the most important criteria for productive work environment

Fresh and clean air in office premises seemingly has been taken as a given – it improves productivity of employees, ensures safe work environment. However, as everyone of us working in offices can understand – will it be easy to breathe and work in these premises? The answer lies in modern ventilation systems about which Iveta Lāce, the commercial director of Riga’s greenest office complex Verde, will tell more.

 Signs of low-quality air at work

Before speaking about ways to improve the air quality at the office, we should understand how to determine that the air is of low quality. This can be done in two ways. First, assessing the office’s technical infrastructure – opening windows, portable fans and conditioners might create a deceiving perception about good-quality ventilation in a room because their effect is of short term or no present at all. For example, all that older model air conditioners without recouperation do is change the air temperature, increasing or decreasing it, and as a result they circulate the “old” air saturated with carbon dioxide in the room instead of taking in fresh outdoor air. 

Second – assess how you feel. Fatigue, frequent yawning and headaches may be signs of insufficient amount of oxygen in the office that can seriously deteriorate wellbeing and work productivity. The above-mentioned factors are equally important for every person, no matter what their duties in the office are. Therefore, if you have resolved to focus more seriously on the air quality in the existing or future office, it is good to know what technologies and wellbeing elements will ensure abundance of fresh air.

Four most important factors that will allow to take a deep breath at work

1. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems – in order to ensure optimum climate at work place, more and more offices are using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, operated with the help of indoor climate management approach, using building management system (BMS) and room thermostats. A modern office building that meets all requirements of wellbeing of the people without this system is like a car without a climate control system.

2. Air humidifying system – the range of relative air humidity indoors that is comfortable for people is within 40-70%. One of the most efficient ways to follow air humidity indicators, including humidifying air during dry weather, is air humidifying systems that will ensure the optimum air humidity level in offices.

3. Chilled beams – these are designed for cooling or warming up large buildings. The heat exchanger or beam will be integrated in the ceiling or attached to the ceiling. Such a solution will help to cool or warm up the room, using the convection method, replacing warmer air with cooler, raising it up from the bottom of the room and lowering it after cooling. Of the same importance – during exploitation, chilled beams account for lower service and maintenance costs and are not consuming electricity compared to classic systems.

4. Green areas. There is a proof that the “green” offices, filled with plants, not only leave a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health, plants are also a great addition to the interior design, and they increase work productivity even by 15%.[1] Therefore, when choosing the office, it is worth paying attention to greenery not only indoors, but also outdoors, next to the office building.

 Iveta Lāce, the commercial director of the future office complex Verde, says: “Today demand for Class A offices in Riga that meet all modern, sustainable and overall “green” office requirements has increased considerably. During negotiations with the existing and potential tenants, I have observed that one of the reasons is the growing awareness of business representatives and their employees about the role of fresh air and natural greens in wellbeing and productivity of people. This has largely been advanced by the time of the pandemic, making people think more about what air we are breathing at work and how we feel there. Therefore, the winners in this situation will be those who understand that work in well-aired and green offices is the new normal.”

[1] https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_409094_en.html