Air Quality - a key metric

The latest research demonstrates how improved air quality translates to quantifiable cognitive benefits. One example is the COGfx study. As a summary, researchers compared a “traditional” office space to various contexts, and found:

1. When the level of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - one of the most common indoor pollutants - was reduced, cognitive scores increased by 61%.
2. When VOC levels were reduced, and ventilation rates increased, scores improved by 101%.

Here is another way to visualize this research:

And the largest increases in cognitive scores were in the areas of crisis response, information usage, and strategy. For law firms, who rely on lawyers to respond to crises, analyze information, and provide their clients with strategic advice, improved air quality is also a key business driver and risk management strategy. 

There are many different strategies to improve air quality in office spaces, from high complexity and cost to lower complexity and cost. These considerations are all site-specific, so email us if you would like support: [email protected].

“Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments,” Joseph G. Allen, Piers MacNaughton, Usha Satish, Suresh Santanam, Jose Vallarino, John D. Spengler, Environmental Health Perspectives, October 26, 2015, doi: 10.1289/ehp.1510037

Full study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.