Improving IEQ in U.S. Office Buildings Could Bring Billions in Economic Benefits

Increasing ventilation rates in U.S. office buildings would reduce sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and absences, improve work performance, and provide billions of dollars in annual economic benefits in the U.S., according to a recent study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A second study found that four remedial measures in U.S. offices—increasing low ventilation rates, improving temperature controls so that offices don't get too hot in winter, performing dampness and mold remediation, and adding economizers—would reduce adverse health effects and health-care costs, decrease absence rates, improve thermal comfort, and improve work performance. The projected societal economic benefits of non-overlapping combinations of the remedial measures range from $17 billion to $26 billion per year.

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Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Photo: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory