Orlando, FL – I recently read an article “Poor Indoor Air Quality Linked to Workers’ Low Cognitive Function” in the Huffington Post regarding a new Harvard study that shows that reducing pollutants and carbon dioxide can have a “profound impact” on decision-making. This study says you may be able to blame it on the air quality in your office.
“These results suggest that even modest improvements to indoor environmental quality may have a profound impact on the decision-making performance of workers,” lead study author Joseph Allen, the director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment, wrote.
I wondered if the same could be said about our homes. These studies have shown that between 6-9% of productivity is lost because of poor IAQ. These numbers are typically higher in winter months when we spend more time inside.
During the winter when everyone is trapped inside, other issues besides productivity is a problem. Airborne infections typically spread when bacteria or viruses travel on dust particles or small respiratory droplets from an infected person’s sneezes or coughs. Fortunately, airborne disease transmission can be reduced via effective air filtration and a cleaner HVAC system.
Pay attention to your HVAC system’s air filters. Air filters provide a primary defense for building occupants against indoor air pollutants. But air filters will only support good IAQ when they are maintained correctly. Replace filters according to the schedule recommended by the manufacturer. When installing filters, secure them tightly to avoid gaps between the filter frame and the filter rack. This helps avoid bypass air, which is detrimental to IAQ because respirable particles travel through the gap without being filtered.
One study shows that improved indoor environmental quality can improve work performance, reduce absences and reduce healthcare needs. These IAQ improvements can reduce respiratory illnesses by up to 76 percent, and businesses can realize up to a 20 percent improvement in productivity. Paying closer attention to your building’s air filtration system and its role in removing the tiny airborne particles that can cause health problems can help buildings improve their IAQ for better occupant health and productivity. If these statistics are alarming for the workplace, they should also be a great concern for our homes.
About ABC Air Duct Cleaning in Orlando
If you need more information about our air duct cleaning, dryer vent and/or chimney cleaning services, please contact us at (407) 477-4302. ABC’s staff has been providing honest air duct, dryer vent chimney services for 20 years. Our Central Florida air duct cleaning company has its main office in Orlando, FL. ABC Cleaning, Inc. is proud to serve residential and commercial customers throughout Central Florida (Orange County, Seminole County, Lake County, Brevard County, and Volusia County). Our certified staff specialize in air duct cleaning & disinfecting, mold & mildew treatments, chimney cleaning & repair, and dryer vent cleaning.
