Better out than in? The frightening  truth about indoor air quality

When you hear the term air pollution it is likely that you conjure images of smoggy cities with stacked roads and industrial factories oozing dark smoke into the air. While this is not incorrect, something many people forget or may not know is that the air we breathe indoors can be just as unhealthy as outdoors, or even worse.

With the majority of the population living in cities and expanding towns, humans are spending an increasing amount of time indoors. Even when we are not at home, most people work in offices or indoor settings, additionally many of our hobbies take place inside. Once upon a time, we would naturally partake in ‘outside time’ when participating in an exercise regime. Nowadays, it is possible to do a 10k run looking at a serene Forest ahead of you, without even taking a step outside. And now, thanks to COVID-19 we are spending more time than ever indoors, with no certainty of an ‘end date’. All of this can amount to us spending 90% of our time indoors; breathing in the air that surrounds you, in your home.

You may be asking, what’s so scary about indoor air quality?

When we breathe in air that is polluted, air pollutants enter our lungs. Think of them as microscopic henchmen, that exist to attack your body!  From the lungs, they can then enter our bloodstream and travel throughout our body to all of our internal organs, including our brain. Just imagine what all those pollutants would be doing to our bodies if we were constantly breathing them in. This can lead to long-term health concerns, such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and, can reduce your life expectancy. New Zealand has the highest childhood asthma rate in the world! With 30% of children experiencing asthmatic symptoms by the age of 7. 

The quality of your indoor air can also leave you with headaches, lack of focus, and sometimes, larger energy bills. If you are unaware of what is causing air pollution or how to prevent it with design strategies and attributes such as airtightness, it can sometimes feel like fighting a losing battle. Luckily for you, we have collated a list below to help you improve the air quality within your home.

• Change your AC filter. If your building is airtight then the building code will require you to have some sort of ventilation system installed. Many premises have them installed for comfort’s sake AND to ensure healthier air quality for their inhabitants.
• On the same note, don’t forget to check and change other filters within your home. That means your vacuum cleaner, dryer vent, extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Also, be sure to actively use kitchen and bathroom vents. I’m sure we are all guilty of jumping in the shower and forgetting to switch on the extractor fan… or is that just me?
• Also, be sure to actively use kitchen and bathroom vents. I’m sure we are all guilty of jumping in the shower and forgetting to switch on the extractor fan… or is that just me?
• Keep heating and cooling vents clear of obstructions. For them to work efficiently vents require access to push that beautiful clean air out into the room and cycle it around.
• Keep your carpets and rugs clean. Air pollutants and bacteria love to hide and cling to the fibers in carpets and rugs. Be sure to ambush those little henchmen with a vacuum cleaner on a regular basis.
• Bring the outdoors, indoors with some air purifying plants! Elephant Ear and Aloe Vera are popular choices.
• Wherever possible keep furniture away from the walls. This allows for better air circulation and ventilation and will help fight against mold build-up in damp areas.

So please, take the steps to give both yourself and your family a healthier living space. And address these concerns with your designer when planning your next build.

When it comes to air pollution, the only resolution is to be the evolution.