A new study in Environmental Health Perspectives shows the benefits of “green” buildings. Researchers studied people working in an office setting, designed to compare “green” air with standard air in the building. On “green” (low VOC) days, people had cognitive scores 61% higher than on standard days, and on “green” days with extra ventilation (low VOC and low CO2), cognitive scores were 101% higher.
The office was a low-VOC (volatile organic compound) “green” building, with separate air flow for the cubicles of the people in the study. The researchers put particle board, cleaning products and other items found in a standard office in a diffuser for the ventilation system to create a standard air. On most days the air was a 50-50 mix of recirculated and outside air. For the extra ventilation days, the ventilation system used all outside air. The extra ventilation reduced the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air.
People performed their normal work activities using a computer and desk in the building. At the end of each day they did a cognitive test (Strategic Management Simulation software).
This study shows that the contents of the building, and how much outside air is used for the ventilation system, really affects cognitive performance. Both VOCs and CO2 really affect our brains. Besides being good for the environment, being “green” is good for people’s health and good for productivity!
