Did you know the 3rd March was National Unplug Day?
We made a conscious decision not to call this out on our social channels as we have been busy switching things “on” (see what we did there?), more on this to follow, please keep reading.
Personally, I do love a digital detox and leaving the screens behind for a bit. This normally happens on a Saturday morning when I get out for a run but I know I should cut down on my screen time.
I remember hearing about the tree bathing practice in Japan and thinking this is a wonderful idea, getting back to nature and truly unplugging. Japan is top of my bucket list to visit.
Do you take time out from the digital world?
What have we been switching on?
As the product owner for our ECCO platform, we have a lot of items in our backlog that are new features and user enhancements. One that we are proud to talk about now, is the availability of CO₂ (or Air Quality) from our ECCO sensors at Client sites.
These sensors are cost-effective and quick to deploy around a building. We then display the data from each sensor on your customised dashboard, useful for tender replies and providing quantifiable data points, not to mention facilitating a healthier environment for occupants.
Why is Air Quality so important?
With the world still recovering from a global Covid-19 pandemic, air quality is understandably high on the agenda. In buildings, there is a broad range of contaminants to be aware of, each with its own insidious impact on the well-being of building occupants – including homeowners, students, and employees.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that almost 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants. WHO data shows that around 3.8m people die each year because of household exposure to contaminants from cookstoves and fuels.
Air pollution can have a negative impact on our health, from short-term effects such as eye irritation and coughs to long-term impacts such as respiratory infections and cancer.
A wealth of studies from institutions such as Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health suggest that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has a negative impact on cognitive functioning, potentially reducing academic performance in schools and productivity in workplaces.
In the UK, on average people spend more than 90% of their time indoors. The quality of indoor air is affected by outdoor pollution, indoor sources, and inadequate ventilation. Particulate matter, mould and chemicals released from synthetic fabrics, paints, furnishings and household products are some of the sources of contaminants that can make indoor air significantly worse than outdoor air at times.
Indoor air pollutants may be biological, such as dust mite feces, mould spores, viruses and pollen, or chemical, such as carbon monoxide, ozone and volatile organic compounds.
Clevernet's ECCO Sensors
Clevernet’s air quality ECCO sensors provide an example of how to measure and improve air quality in buildings. Prior to installing the sensors, Clevernet’s Building Performance specialists carry out an extensive investigation of the premises.
This includes measuring ventilation system volume airflow rates, verifying the air distribution within the building and quantifying air changes per hour using carbon dioxide tracer gas tests.
This exercise provided an actual baseline dataset to establish if CO₂ concentrations below 800ppm in line with the REHVA guidance on reliable indoor air quality could be maintained across the premises and in meeting rooms.
The outcome of the measurements prompted the installation of additional local extraction rooms to ensure safe and comfortable occupancy.
Tell me more about ECCO Sensors
Light touch installation each unit contains a battery with a 5-year life span and we can complete full building sensor coverage in a day. No cables are needed and each sensor can be moved as the needs of the building evolve (e.g. tenant movements).
Data, data, data! The data captured by each sensor is interesting, what this allows is greater control over spaces/rooms in a building that is the real value. When we combine this feed with energy consumption we can make the building more dynamic from an energy responsiveness aspect. If nobody is in on a Monday and Friday, we will use the data to adjust controls and program the plant to "fall back" to save energy. You also have valuable information about CO₂ levels in various parts of a building.
One small adjustment using our ECCO sensors and data points enabled a saving of £800 per day for one ECCO customer (£292,000 over a year!)
Our COO on CO2
Speaking about Clevernet’s ECCO Sensors, Clevernet’s Chief Operating Officer Russell McQuillan said:
“Clevernet passionately believes in promoting the wellbeing of staff, visitors and asset owners. We strive to create an environment in which occupants can feel safe and comfortable in their office and we are now delivering this critical capability across the UK and Ireland."
So, take your time out from the online world and join the green building with Clevernet and switch on your CO2 sensor reporting, your tenants will thank you for it.