Monitoring indoor air quality often is important to maintain the health and comfort of those inside a building. This is particularly helpful where people have to stay for several hours and be productive, such as at school or in the workplace. In fact, one of the main reasons that most businesses are inside as opposed to the outdoors is the ability to have indoor air control. The main types include heating and cooling, filtration, and ventilation.
One of the most noticeable aspects of a structure often is the indoor temperature. Studies have shown that too much heat can make it difficult to concentrate, and even can make it harder to stay awake. On the other hand, buildings that are too cold can be uncomfortable. Either extreme can both reduce productivity and increase costs for the business owner who pays the bills. Thus, a heating and an air conditioning unit typically are considered crucial components of most buildings, as they can keep building occupants comfortable and productive.
Clean air often is just as important as achieving the perfect temperature in a building, and it usually can be obtained through filtration. An air purifier is a popular form of indoor air control, as it can remove common contaminants like dust, smoke, and vapors. This type of indoor air control also can reduce issues with asthma, since it can filter pollen, animal dander, and asbestos from the air. Buildings may contain a few smaller filtration devices, or may have one built into the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Ventilation is another common type of indoor air quality issue. The most rudimentary form often is opening the doors and windows of a building to help flush out interior air by using fresh air from the exterior. This usually only works well when there is little pollution and few contaminants outside, and when leaving doors and windows open may be particularly expensive if a heating or cooling system also is running. A common form of ventilation is an exhaust fan that pulls air to the exterior. This type of indoor air control typically is found in bathrooms or kitchens, though anywhere that has excess humidity in the air can benefit from an exhaust fan since its main job is to remove moist air.
Indoor air control methods may be portable in smaller buildings that do not need the industrial kind. Larger buildings often benefit from the type built into the structure. In fact, many heating and cooling systems also include filters that can eliminate most contaminants.