12/11/2020

Going Beyond Green: The Future of Smart Healthy Buildings

With the severe impact of COVID-19 on the global economy since the beginning of 2020, the pandemic has prompted us to reflect on the relationship between people and the environment and to refocus on the requirements of an ideal building environment. Health and security requirements, in particular, of our workplace and living environments have become essential factors in designing green and smart buildings.



Recent years have seen the growing importance of employee well-being at business enterprises. In a study released by Future Workplace and View in 2019, the air quality, lighting, and temperature of a workplace environment were cited as having the most significant impact on employee wellness. One-third of those surveyed said they lose at least an hour of productivity each day due to an office environment that does not support their daily health.*



Addressing both the short-term anti-pandemic requirements and long-term employee aspirations for workplaces that promote a healthy environment, healthy buildings have inspired a market demand that cannot be reversed. International certifications centered on healthy buildings such as WELL and Fitwel have been launched. Riding the wave of workplace wellness awareness, the real estate industry appeals to tenants with certified healthy buildings, while employers seek to attract outstanding talents by offering them healthier work environments. The main requirements of a healthy building are as follows:



1. Managing indoor air quality and strengthening air-conditioning system operation:

Although air circulation is essential for healthy buildings, the use of outside air ventilation is vital to diluting the pollutants in the air and reducing the spread of diseases. In practice, it is necessary to ensure that the indoor air quality monitoring system is turned on and operated in accordance with the design standards. It is also important to strengthen air filtration, timely adjustment, and ventilation, and maintain continuous monitoring. At the same time, when the outdoor air quality permits, opening windows or increasing the ventilation volume of fresh air helps with effective disease prevention. Moreover, wherever feasible, ensure that the air conditioning system operates with primary fresh air to prevent cross-contamination caused by the return air.



2. Building a safe work environment mechanism:

For pandemic prevention and personnel safety, build a plan to evaluate measures and feasibility of reopening the office space and subsequent use of the space. Such measures include employing touchless access control, practicing social distancing, and reducing contact points.



3. Creating a healthy lighting environment:

To optimize office environments, proper ambient lighting and sunshades are a must. Adequate access to natural light in their daily work is closely related to higher melatonin levels at night, which can effectively reduce depression symptoms and improve sleep quality. Sunshades can control the amount of sunlight in the work environment, help improve comfort, and support mental health.



With the advent of the new normal life post COVID-19, effectively meeting the three essential requirements for a healthy and safe building environment is not only predictably of significance to pandemic prevention, but also important in the long term when it comes to people's sense of security about and sustainability of the environment. Delta's multi-faceted healthy building solutions deliver more than the convenience and energy-saving benefits of smart buildings; they provide people with a healthier and safer building environment through human-oriented core technologies. To learn more about Delta's solutions for building automation, please check out the article “Delta's Smart Healthy Buildings are the New Norm” for more information.



*"Future Workplace Wellness Study," Future Workplace and View

News Source:Delta Building Automation Business Group