Understand the impact of CO2 levels on our comfort and health – at home and at work

Understanding the impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on indoor comfort and health, such as homes and workplaces, is key to maintaining well-being and efficiency. CO2 is a gas that naturally occurs in the atmosphere and is the result of human and animal respiration, as well as some industrial and domestic processes such as heating. Although not harmful in low concentrations, high levels of CO2 can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of people in confined spaces. Impact of CO2 on health and comfort

1. Air quality: High indoor CO2 concentrations can indicate poor ventilation and poor air quality, which can lead to fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even respiratory problems.
2. Performance and concentration: Studies have shown that high levels of CO2 can negatively affect cognitive function, reducing the ability to concentrate, speed of decision-making and energy levels. For office workers and students, this can mean lower productivity and poorer academic performance.
3. Self-esteem: Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of CO2 can contribute to the development of sick building syndrome, which is characterized by a general deterioration of mood, feelings of fatigue and other nonspecific health symptoms.

How to manage CO2 levels

1. Strengthening ventilation: Regular ventilation of rooms by opening windows or using heat-recovery ventilation systems can significantly reduce CO2 concentrations, improving indoor air quality.
2. Air quality monitoring: Using air quality monitors can help identify ventilation and air quality problems, allowing rapid response to improve conditions.
3. Indoor plants: Although the effect of plants in significantly reducing indoor CO2 levels is a topic of debate, they can contribute to improving overall air quality by removing pollutants and producing oxygen.
4. Reducing the number of people in a room: Reducing the population density in an area can help keep CO2 levels lower, especially in areas where natural ventilation is limited.

Managing indoor CO2 levels is key to ensuring a healthy and productive environment both at home and at work. Regular monitoring of air quality and appropriate measures, such as improving ventilation, can make a significant contribution to well-being and efficiency. For factors that affect air quality, lighting conditions, acoustics and thermal comfort, ESPIRIO will be a very effective solution to manage them. Importantly, we can use it either as an in-house solution running permanently or order a periodic Espirio LAB professional audit service. In the latter case, we also receive a very detailed report with the results of the measurements and, based on them, guidelines for optimizing the conditions in which we live or work.