Accounting Made Easy

Learn about Xero
MYOB software and more
to improve your accounting process

 

MYOB

Learn about MYOB so you don’t get charged too much for MYOB software

Xero

Find out important information about XERO accounting software

Retail Manager

Find out important accounting information to help your retail business thrive

Small Business

Get information tailored to small businesses and never pay too much again

Are You Ready To Start Managing Your Money?

Blog

6 Advantages of Good Workplace Ventilation

office ventilation by Sigrist Design

We all spend our entire lives inhaling air. Indoor air quality isn’t often the most pressing problem on people’s minds, yet it is critical to their health, comfort, and productivity. One of the most critical engineering controls in the workplace and school environments is ventilation, and proper ventilation may save energy while improving indoor air quality.

Good ventilation eliminates air pollutants, removes CO2, brings in the fresh air, and regulates temperature and humidity. Buildings should lower CO2 levels to no more than 700 parts per million (ppm) above outdoor air levels, according to ASHRAE (which equates to about 1,200 ppm total).

Temperatures should range between 21°C and 24°C, with humidity levels ranging between 20% and 60%. However, humidity levels above 40% can assist minimise viral infection in the air. So, what is the point of adhering to these guidelines? Here are the top six advantages of proper ventilation and air quality.

Need to improve your ventilation?

One of the local Brisbane businesses we recommend is Sigrist Design. Their ability to custom design and create the optimal airflow system for your environment makes them second to none. Sigrist Design are Brisbane’s experts in industrial ventilation and they also provide excellent workplace ventilation, workplace cooling and are Brisbane’s go-to HVAC suppliers.

1. Increase Employee Comfort

Nobody wants to go to work in an unpleasant atmosphere and shiver or sweat all day at a computer. People spend the majority of their time indoors working. They are more likely to be calm if the interior air quality and temperature are at a pleasant level. In a pleasant setting, it is simpler to concentrate on the responsibilities of the day. Of course, you don’t have to make your office building as comfortable as a spa, but a minimum degree of comfort may help boost morale and productivity, which brings us to our next topic.

2. Enhance Employee Productivity

Good air quality and ventilation help with focus, decision-making, job satisfaction, stamina, energy, and many other things. Employees will not be troubled by being excessively hot or cold, or by being in a stuffy environment. Lower CO2 levels and higher quantities of fresh air and oxygen help the brain work at its best.

One study discovered a clear relationship between improved air quality and enhanced decision-making performance. Air with low CO2 levels (600 ppm) in particular allowed participants to work and strategize at a higher level. The study also discovered that workers in green-certified buildings outperformed workers in regular buildings on cognitive function tests. High production was also aided by a comfortable air temperature.

So, is it worthwhile to replace an HVAC system or boost ventilation in order to reap these benefits? According to Harvard, increasing ventilation rates might cost around $40 per person per year. At the same time, it was anticipated that greater productivity might benefit businesses by an additional $6,500 per worker per year. That is certainly worth the effort.

3. Minimize Sick Time

Some people may have eye discomfort, inflammation, and trouble breathing as a result of poor indoor air quality. It can also exacerbate some pre-existing health issues. Poor air quality is also linked to sick building syndrome, a condition in which employees or students report distinct symptoms when within a building but not when outside of it. That is why ventilation is critical.

People can benefit from ventilation systems to keep healthy. Increasing ventilation in a previously under-ventilated building, for example, has been proven to reduce sick time by 35%. Similarly, increased ventilation correlates with decreased absence rates in schools.

Lockheed Martin relocated one of its teams to a new building in 1983 that was designed to promote natural light, circulation, and energy efficiency. The firm discovered that absenteeism was reduced by roughly 15%, and the improvement in productivity more than compensated for the building’s cost in the first year.

4. Create a Comfortable Environment for Customers and Clients

The worst thing is showing up for a meeting or interview and immediately beginning to sweat because the inside environment is too hot or stagnant. Instead of concentrating on the talk, all you want is a relief. It’s difficult to articulate what’s wrong, but it’s definitely obvious when you go into a stifling office environment with poor airflow.

Instead, take advantage of your building’s air system to calm folks down. A welcoming environment allows prospective clients and partners to unwind, which is a good thing. A decent ventilation system will also assist to decrease smells and keep the inside air fresh.

5. Control Energy Costs

Energy bill management is always a worry, and heating and ventilation do consume a significant amount of energy. There are, however, methods to balance energy expenses with the health advantages of proper ventilation. Here are some strategies you may employ:

  • Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems: redistribute the temperature and humidity of exhaled conditioned air to entering fresh air. This can save electricity while increasing fresh air intake.
  • Demand-controlled ventilation: CO2 sensors can compute ideal airflow and change ventilation in real time. Because a room with 50 people requires more ventilation than one with three, the system will send more air to the first room.
  • Variable-speed compressors: A variable-speed compressor has hundreds of speed options. When combined with variable blowers, a system may precisely adjust airflow and temperature while using less energy.

6. Maintain Humidity

The capacity to adjust humidity is another advantage of effective ventilation systems. ERVs can capture part of the moisture in humidified air, reducing the amount of energy needed to humidify new air. Mould, mites, fungus, bacterial development, and viruses can be reduced by keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%. This can help to avoid health issues and allergic responses.

Good ventilation produces wonderful results

The air we breathe is critical. You may increase comfort and productivity, minimise sick time, calm clients, save energy expenses, and regulate humidity with effective ventilation. These advantages can improve many elements of your business.

1 2 7