Some 60% of facility operators in a new industry survey say they are leaning in the direction of embracing indoor air quality optimization measures in the wake of Covid-19.
The survey, conducted by the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Honeywell International, additionally indicated that a larger 70% are seriously considering investing in smart building solutions designed to support sustainability efforts and increase efficiency.
The Honeywell survey was conducted as part of a report Rethinking Buildings Post Covid-19.
That report, looking at the challenges confronting facility operators both in the U.S. and a handful of foreign countries, indicates clearly that the pandemic has helped to change the way that such professional look at the built environment.
Overwhelmingly, facility operators today are “becoming more aware of how the buildings they use for work, school and care can affect their well-being,” said Vimal Kapur, chief executive officer of Honeywell Building Technologies.
In a statement, Kapur added his expectation that occupants of such buildings will increasingly “push building owners and operators to implement new procedures with efficient, sustainable solutions” designed to enhance both safety and comfort.
The report comes as millions of Americans are either returning to their offices, or on the verge of doing so.
In asking respondents to describe the current condition of the buildings they work in, the report notes that 67% said the those buildings lacked contactless building entry measures; while 66% said their buildings had no integrated lighting; and 57% reported that their buildings were without air quality solutions.
“Improving indoor air quality ranks as the most important aspect of a healthy building for those working in healthcare and educational facilities,” the report notes, “while those working in data centers and commercial real estate buildings cite cleaning procedures as their top priority.”
The report recommends a greater use of digital technology to monitor and control indoor environments, while also “measuring temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.”
By Garry Boulard