The pandemic has been extremely hard on just about every business, be it large or small, and one of those businesses that have suffered greatly are restaurants.

Some have successfully transitioned to take-out and delivery, but the challenge to make the workplace healthy and virus-free to protect the health of employees placed an enormous pressure on busainess owners and building landlords.

Today, as restrictions gradually loosen and most restaurants worldwide can now legally resume their operations, many customers are still hesitant to visit and dine-in.

Considering both situations, it is critical for restaurants post-pandemic to employ stricter safety precautions to put customers and employees at ease. Aside from mask wearing, temperature scanning, social distancing and vaccination protocols, these extra measures should include monitoring and improving indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality in restaurants

Complying to sanitation mandates, although effective is not enough to completely efface virus threats and ensure safety. Risk shoots up when virus particles and other contaminants continue to float in the air and roam within the facility, so having the right knowledge about a restaurant’s indoor air quality will allow owners to become more equipped in preventing the infection as they begin to re-open.

Poor IAQ hotspots in restaurants

The following are known to be the worst air-polluted areas in a restaurant:

• Kitchen – most restaurant activities take place in the kitchen. Smoke from grills, stoves and ovens release emissions into the air like particles, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that can make the air toxic.
• Coolers and refrigeration units – these areas produce excess moisture which can lead to mold and mildew production.
• HVAC system – heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can also be accountable for poor indoor air quality in restaurants. Faulty HVAC units promote poor air flow which could increase the risk of virus survival.
• Dining Area – the number of people and the activities that occur in a restaurant’s dining area produce high levels of carbon dioxide, unbalanced temperature and moisture. The cleaning materials, furniture and paints used in the facility can produce volatile organic compounds and particles that when inhaled, may harm health.

Impacts of indoor air quality in restaurants

• Food storage – keeping food products in its best condition requires meticulous hygienic conditions and sometimes, specific cooling mechanisms. When indoor air quality especially the temperature and humidity is unbalanced, mold and bacteria can accumulate which can lead to food spoilage and contamination.
• Sense of taste and smell – Long-term exposure to harsh odors and PM2.5 may put a person’s sense of smell at risk and experience a condition called anosmia. Moreover, a poor sense of smell also affects a person’s ability to taste — which means that they would likely consider stronger tasting foods, which are often fatty and salty.
• Customer comfort and satisfaction – aside from offering appetizing meals, maintaining good indoor air quality is another way to keep customers happy and satisfied. Unwanted odors and facilities that are too hot or cold can make a customer’s dining experience unpleasant. Additionally, dust and allergens floating in the air can aggravate the condition of diners with existing health issues.

Discomforts can lead to complaints and bad reviews which can damage the business’ reputation.

• Employee work performance – employees who are exposed to bad IAQ are at great risk of experiencing short-term and long-term health problems. Short-term effects include Sick Building Syndrome with symptoms such as eye and nose irritation, coughing and headache – which subsides when the employee is no longer at work while long-term health problems include bronchitis, colds, increased aging of the lungs and cancer.

Both short-term and long-term problems caused by unmanaged indoor air quality in restaurants can result in frequent absences, poor work performance and reduced productivity.

How to improve indoor air quality in restaurants

Restrictions have been lifted, restaurants can open again, but for it to prosper, customers need to show up. Here are some effective indoor air quality tips that would help restaurants encourage diners to sit down for a meal:

• Conduct HVAC system inspections, maintenance and change air filters regularly to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• Improve ventilation. Cooking creates high levels of humidity through smoke and steam, by letting the bad air out and the fresh air in, unpleasant odors and harmful gasses can be eliminated.
• Conduct regular dusting and vacuuming to remove fine particles.
• Redesign the kitchen with ergonomics in mind. This promotes efficiency, comfort, productivity and can contribute to better indoor air.
• Choose cleaning and sanitizing products that are free from volatile chemicals.
• Use indoor air quality sensors. uHoo Aura provides real-time indoor air quality data that restaurant owners and managers can use in optimizing the dining facility. Equipped with sensors for temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, air pressure, VOCs and more, uHoo Aura can provide insights, trends and analytics that are useful in creating strategies on how to improve indoor air quality in restaurants and create an environment that’s healthy and virus-free.

Just like anyone, employees and diners are rightfully concerned about the facilities they would visit and go back to. By learning how to improve indoor air quality in restaurants, you can save your customers from health consequences, improve employee productivity and ensure a good brand reputation, all at the same time.

References:

1. https://www.forrestanderson.net/post/improving-indoor-air-quality-in-your-restaurant
2. https://www.cnet.com/health/how-to-improve-indoor-air-quality/
3. https://iaqscience.lbl.gov/perceived-iaq-and-work-performance
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15330777/
5. https://www.metmann.com/en/n127_Air-quality-in-the-food-industry-a-challenge-for-producers
6. https://www.achrnews.com/articles/144323-restaurant-owners-hang-hopes-on-iaq-solutions
7. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-01/smog-might-damage-your-sense-of-smell#:~:text=The%20investigators%20found%20that%20long,foods%20and%20detect%20harmful%20odors
8. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/pollution-is-killing-our-sense-of-smell-and-its-making-us-fatter-35475052.html

With the modern work being done in meeting rooms, conference areas and cubicles, and with school establishments, malls, shopping centers, cinemas and apartment complexes blossoming right here and there – surely, buildings play a huge part of our urban lives and whether we like it or not, most of us are going to spend many years being in it.

While buildings are known to serve us most of our societal needs, we should also start to look more closely and examine how these built spaces affect the environment and the health of the people using them — this is where conversations about “green buildings” and “healthy buildings” begin to take off.

Building managers, facility owners or anyone concerned with adopting green and healthy practices must deeply understand what these terms mean and how they differ from each other. Here’s our take on it:

What is a Green Building? 

The World Green Building Council defines green building as an establishment wherein its design, construction or operation reduces or eliminates negative effects and creates positive impacts on our climate and natural environment. These green buildings are established to preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.

The main agenda of green buildings is to enhance the current situation of the environment and contribute to sustainability. Common green building practices include using eco-friendly building and construction materials, increasing energy efficiency, reducing air pollution and improving indoor environmental quality.

The urban and natural environment shall also be considered when making design, operational and construction planning and decisions.

Benefits of a Green Building

• Environmental conservation – through its philosophies and practices, green buildings can significantly reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency. To measure the claim, the Department of Energy reviewed 22 LEED-certified buildings and found out that these buildings produce 34% lower carbon emissions, consume 25% less energy and 11% less water.
• Work Satisfaction – a study has found out that there is a preference bias for green buildings, employees consider the environmental features of a green building to be more pleasant and agreeable than the ones of traditional buildings. Also, the natural-based characteristics of green buildings can boost satisfaction at work.
• Business Savings – the reduction in energy and water consumption leads to a decrease in operating cost and improved savings.

The green building market holds a strong promise in Asia. In 2019, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a global development organization and a sister institution of the World Bank, published a report about green buildings, stressing the best practices that investors, developers and the government can adopt. The report also showed that green buildings are one of the largest investment opportunities in the coming years — with a $24.7 trillion investment opportunity by 2030.

What is a Healthy Building? 

While green buildings prioritize the mitigation of the negative environmental impact of built establishments, healthy buildings are giving emphasis on health and human experience.

A healthy building is described as an establishment that supports the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of its occupants in the way it is designed, built and maintained. Factors to be considered when making buildings healthy include:

• Indoor air quality
• Water quality
• Safety and security
• Lighting and view
• Site selection
• Building design

Benefits of a Healthy Building

• Reduced health risks – Assessing the presence of air pollutants Improving indoor air quality in healthy buildings can reduce employees’ risk of developing health issues like asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory ailments.
• Improved productivity and work performance – employees that are healthier and less exposed to pollutants have fewer sickness-related absences and are known to have improved work outcomes.
• Increases employee comfort – well-ventilated spaces, breathable indoor air quality and thermal comfort are known to reduce distraction and irritation among employees. It also leads to a happier, satisfied and energetic workforce knowing that the indoor environment is well maintained.

A report has identified that COVID-19 has strengthened the importance of health in investment decisions, with almost 90% of respondents sharing their intent to improve health-related asset management strategies in the coming years.  The report also highlights the increasing investor awareness on the importance of health and wellbeing to their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, giving focus on the “S” of the term ESG.

Can a building be both green and healthy? 

Green and healthy buildings may have separate definitions, procedures and intentions, but the features and practices implemented for each  building will have a positive effect on the other.

One of the perfect examples is improving indoor air quality. Improving indoor air is vital to ensure employee welfare, which covers the purpose of a healthy building. On the other hand, making enhancements on indoor air quality promotes efficient energy use thereby minimizing a building’s carbon emissions, which benefits the environment.

With the pandemic and all that has happened within the past years, it is necessary to pay more attention in establishing a healthy built environment to secure the future of human health. But working to improve health does not mean neglecting the current situation and the fate of the planet. In the end we should remember that the choices we make for the environment will have an enormous, long-lasting impact on its people.

References:

1. https://www.usgbc.org/press/benefits-of-green-building
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01583/full
3. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/a6e06449-0819-4814-8e75-903d4f564731/59988-IFC-GreenBuildings-report_FINAL_1-30-20.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=m.TZbMU
4. https://www.mysquaremetre.com/education/sustainable-real-estate-why-invest-in-green-buildings/
5. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-global-study-finds-covid-19-accelerating-investments-in-healthy-buildings-301259614.html

Can Indoor Air Quality in Schools Affect the Students’ Alertness and Cognition?

Schools have always been considered a second home for many reasons. Therefore, it should be safe, encouraging and healthy for students. But of all the measures and practices implemented to secure their welfare, there is something that most educational institutions often miss : indoor air quality. 

Poor indoor air quality in schools has long been a threat to students’ health, but the recent coronavirus pandemic has intensified the urgency to improve it. Given that children spend a significant proportion of their time in schools, indoor air quality in these establishments matters, and as they gradually reopen after a lengthy hiatus, creating healthier classrooms for students must be part of their agenda.

Before taking steps to improve the air quality in educational establishments, it is extremely essential to fully understand the problem, its potential sources and the adverse effects that it can have.

Common indoor air contaminants in school buildings 

The air pollutants listed above are often overlooked and neglected, but they must not be. Depending on the type of pollutant, its effects can be visible immediately or even years later.

Problems associated with poor indoor air quality 

Poor indoor air quality affects us all, but it may pose greater risk in children more than adults since their bodies are still young and developing. At school, students who are exposed to stale indoor air can suffer from a range of short-term to long-term physical and mental health issues.

• • Severe asthma symptoms
    • According to the American Lung Association, children who are constantly exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution are at greater risk of experiencing more frequent and severe asthma flare ups. Exposure to poor indoor air can also cause nighttime coughing, chronic wheezing and Sick Building Syndrome with symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, dizziness and headaches. This can interfere with their sleep and reduce their ability to do activities like running and playing.
  • Higher risk of having respiratory infections
    • Children breathing polluted air can have higher risk of developing respiratory infections like bronchitis, colds, and other airborne diseases such as the coronavirus. Frequent exposure to poor indoor air decreases the immune system’s capacity to function well, thereby increasing a child’s vulnerability to respiratory ailments.
  • Indoor air pollution weakens memory function
    • Indoor air pollution can lead to poor memory performance. In fact, a report from a leading health journal, Health Affairs shows that high amounts of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) decreases memory function by 7.37%.
    • Also, the exposure to Carbon Dioxide (CO2), unbalanced temperature and high amounts of fine particulates can make it more difficult for a student to focus and strategize which can have catastrophic consequences on their personal development and academic achievements.
  • Inadequate ventilation can lead to poor exam performance. 
    • Clean air may help the brain function better, but this can’t be achieved without proper ventilation. Ventilation is the act of removing poor indoor air in an enclosed space and replacing it with fresh air from outdoors. Proper air circulation prevents bacteria, viruses and gasses from being trapped within the facility.
    • Students in stuffier classrooms did worse on standardized tests than students did in buildings with fresher air, Science News for Students claims. When classrooms are not well ventilated, carbon dioxide levels can build up and students will have trouble concentrating.
    • In another study, researchers analyzed the indoor air quality in schools using 100 5th grade classrooms. It has found out that indoor air quality in most of these classrooms is substandard and students who got to breathe fresher air in school performed well on their standardized exams.

In addition to the health and mental effects of poor indoor air quality in school facilities, contaminants can damage building materials thereby increasing the operational, replacements and maintenance costs.

Managing indoor air quality in schools

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted school administrators around the world to establish stringent measures to keep schools safe and healthy. Aside from implementing mask and vaccination regulations, the adoption of air quality monitors as one of the indoor air quality tools in schools is seen to be an innovative strategy to mitigate the unwanted effects of poor indoor air to students.

uHoo Aura is the most advanced indoor air quality sensor that monitors 13 factors affecting air quality, including carbon dioxide. Monitoring CO2 levels is a good indicator of ventilation — this way, school administrators can ensure that the facility is replenishing fresh air, thus mitigating health risks including asthma attacks and virus infections.

uHoo Aura can also measure fine particulate matter, VOCs, NO2, temperature, humidity and more. Data insights can be viewed using a centralized dashboard which can be used by staff and school leaders when creating actions to ensure the safety, productivity and outstanding academic performance of students. To learn more about uHoo Aura’s capabilities and technology that are suitable for every school’s IAQ monitoring requirements, read more.

References:

1. https://newsroom.hitachiaircon.com/en/news/indoor-air-quality-and-children-s-education
2. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/stuffy-classrooms-may-lower-test-scores
3. https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/stuffy-classrooms-may-lower-test-scores
4. https://newsroom.hitachiaircon.com/en/news/indoor-air-quality-and-children-s-education
5. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/children-and-air-pollution
6. https://getuhoo.com/blog/education/air-quality-affects-childrens-school-performance/