What Most People Don’t Know About Ventilation Systems

Cool air feels darn good, especially when strolling in to escape the blazing summer sun. But unfortunately, it also costs an arm and a leg when it comes time to pay that dreaded electricity bill, which is one of the reasons why many people turn to cheaper alternatives that can still keep them comfortable.

Indoor ventilators are one such alternative, but the benefits of ventilators don’t just stop at comfort. Adequate ventilation also has more visible, practical advantages that many people aren’t aware of.

Research has shown that the amount of ventilation circulating through a building often has a corresponding relationship with higher rates of performance and health. These findings suggest that proper ventilation is not just for sensory satisfaction, but can also be a mental and physical stimulus at the office, in school, or at home.

Ventilation and Office Work Performance

In the average workplace, higher rates of ventilation have been shown to improve the speed and accuracy of typical office work—proofreading, typing, simple math, telephone interaction with customers, etc.

For instance, when study participants at call centers and in laboratories were monitored for their work performance, they repeatedly showed a higher level of performance when the room was better ventilated, even though they weren’t aware of when the ventilation rates were being manipulated.

Ventilation and School Performance

It’s about that time for our kids to head back to school, and keeping them motivated to pay attention in class can be a tough challenge fresh out of summer break. One tool that may help is indoor ventilation.

One U.S.study gathered data from 5th grade classrooms in 54 different schools. They gave students a standardized academic test focusing on math and reading—to ensure objectivity—and discovered that the classrooms whose students scored highest also had the highest ventilation rate. Classes with the worst ventilation systems scored up to 13% less than well-ventilated schoolrooms.

Three other studies investigating the effect of ventilation on student performance have further supported this hypothesis. Overall, it is estimated that as many as half of U.S. public elementary school classrooms may be less failing to meet specified ventilation codes.

Ventilation and the Home

There has not yet been enough significant research addressing the general relationship between home ventilators and the health of its occupants. However, scientific studies have linked indoor air quality and ventilation with a reduction in airborne bacteria and viruses.

For example, three independent research projects each evaluated ventilation rates and respiratory illness in different locations—a military barracks, a nursing home, and a jail. Despite taking place in various settings, all three studies concluded that there was an increase in respiratory illness whenever ventilation decreased.

When a sick family member sneezes, they eject contagious bacteria into the air of the home. Scientists hypothesize that the ventilation refreshes stagnant, bacteria-laden air with fresh, clean air, which decreases the likelihood of getting sick.

Adequate ventilation may be an unseen component of your home, school, or office, but experts say that it can have a noticeably positive effect. More and more findings continue to stream in about how working ventilation systems can improve people’s quality of life, so stayed tuned to our blog.

And contact any one of our highly-trained heat and air contractors to learn more about Gagne’s air quality solutions.