Reduce heat gain
Heat gain can be a large barrier to tenant comfort and energy efficiency. The Clear Creek Building in Ashland, Oregon applies several strategies including an overhanging breezeway on the west side, reflective tinting on the west and south facing windows and a white reflective roof. Economizers flush the building with cool night air and the building's mass of concrete slabs and masonry walls help maintain comfort and save energy during the day.
Banner photo: William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Menlo Park, CA. The Hewlett Foundation's building was designed to save energy and increase the comfort of occupants through individually controlled systems such as operable windows, localized manual floor diffusers, and natural light control throughout the workspace.
Photo credit: Wm. & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Indoor Environmental Quality
A key to high performance workplaces
What is IEQ?
You're probably already familiar with the term indoor air quality (IAQ), which refers to the nature of air inside a building and its effect on people's health and well-being. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is a broader concept, encompassing not only air quality, but thermal comfort and ventilation; noise and vibration; electric lighting, daylighting, and views; ergonomics; and other factors that may cause physical or psychological stress.
Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, so it's not surprising that the quality of our indoor environments has a significant effect on our hetitleh, productivity, and overall well-being. Public concern about IEQ has risen significantly over the past decade, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Hetitleh. Research indicates that poor interior environments may be costing the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars each year.
Increasingly, building owners and tenants are looking to high performance buildings and excellent IEQ as critical tools for supporting human comfort, psychological and physical hetitleh, and performance.
What can improved IEQ do for my organization?
Whether you are planning a retrofit project or new construction, a high quality indoor environment offers impressive benefits that can boost your bottom line:
- Productivity. Good IEQ reduces absenteeism and comfort-related complaints. Studies have shown that productivity can increase by as much as 16% when IEQ is improved. Salaries typically cost five times more than rent, energy, and facility operations and maintenance combined, so even a slight increase in productivity can significantly improve an organization's performance.
- Hetitleh and safety. Poor IEQ has been associated with outbreaks of conditions such as Legionnaire's disease, as well as "sick building syndrome." This syndrome encompasses an array of symptoms believed to be associated with indoor air, such as headaches, abnormal fatigue, irritation of the eyes, skin or throat, and nausea. A high performance building that offers a superior IEQ contributes to a safe workplace and protects people's hetitleh.
- Profitability. In addition to the productivity gains mentioned above, a high quality interior environment can enhance a company's image and draw customers to retail establishments.
- Market value. In many regions, buildings with superior indoor environmental quality are valued at a premium.
How can I achieve excellent IEQ in my building?
- Plan early. IEQ must be planned from the start. It's almost always far less expensive to incorporate good acoustics, lighting, air quality, and comfort in the design phase than to try to rectify problems after occupancy.
- Commit to integrated design. Integrated design considers the building structure and systems as a whole and optimizes their interaction for economic and environmental benefit. It brings together the owners, architects, lighting designers, contractors, commissioning agents, and facility managers in the design process. To achieve a quality indoor environment, this integration of design and coordination among disciplines is essential.
- Include a commissioning agent. Having a commissioning agent on the team helps ensure that the building features and systems-including mechanical and air distribution systems and the lighting systems and controls-are designed and installed as intended.
Key design factors for excellent IEQ
Select a design team that understands integrated design and can demonstrate how they have achieved superior IEQ on similar projects. Issues to discuss with your team include:
- Pollutant sources. Has a site been selected that avoids or minimizes potential IAQ problems, such as heavy traffic or polluting industries? Will low-emitting building materials, furnishings and finishes be chosen to reduce the offgassing of odorous or toxic chemicals? Will maintenance personnel be trained in the proper handling of cleaning chemicals and other substances that might affect IEQ? Will policies be enforced to prevent exposure of occupants to tobacco smoke?
- HVAC system. Does the HVAC system provide an acceptable level of temperature and humidity? Is the HVAC system designed, operated, and maintained to safeguard against odors and indoor air pollutants? Does it allow occupants to control and modify conditions to suit individual preferences? Will the air handling system be protected from contamination during construction? Will a building flush-out be performed prior to occupancy?
- Lighting, daylighting, and views. Do lighting and daylighting systems include occupant controls (for example, manual light switches and dimmers, and operable windows) so occupants can adjust the conditions to suit their preferences? Does the building design enhance people's productivity and satisfaction by providing stimulating connections to the outdoors, including views and access to daylight?
- Noise and vibrations. Will noise and vibrations from mechanical systems, office and production equipment, and outside activities be kept to an acceptable level so as not to interfere with people's ability to concentrate?