Indoor environmental quality of your building: how to certify it

Due to human activity, CO2 levels in the air have increased by 30% in the last two and a half centuries. If we heed the forecasts, and do not undertake measures to avoid the deterioration of environmental quality, this level of emissions will double in the next five decades.

To minimize emissions of polluting particles, actions in the energy sector are essential such as, for example, implementing renewable energies, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and establishing control of thermal installations (heating and cooling).

Package of technological measures

• Change production procedures and replace them with less polluting ones.

• Implement EGR valves in vehicles — to recirculate emitted gases and thus reduce emissions of unhealthy gases into the environment —, catalysts, and particle retention filters.

• Promote the use of biofuels.

• Promote a modification in traditional heating systems: enhance the use of clean and renewable energies, that is, those that use the inexhaustible resources offered by nature (biomass, solar and wind energy).

It is worth remembering that pollution, in addition to negatively impacting the environment, flora and fauna, buildings, and all cultural heritage, has a negative effect on people's health.

Do you know how to certify the indoor air quality of your building?

The standard verifies that both indoor air quality inspections and the results adhere to certain protocols of action and quality demands. What benefits does the environmental quality certificate bring? It guarantees a comfortable and pleasant environment for occupants, prevents "sick building" syndrome, and improves the work environment, thereby increasing company productivity and reducing absenteeism.

State action plan

In the chapter that mentions measures in construction, the document establishes that minimum requirements must be set for new construction buildings regarding energy efficiency. These requirements will be introduced as early as the initial design phase of the project by applying current regulations. In the case of existing constructions, measures would be applied to those subject to rehabilitation works. In addition to regular inspections of thermal installations, the energy certificate of the building is also mandatory.

The paradigm of sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction sector is the passive house, that is, one that uses the resources of bioclimatic architecture and achieves energy efficiency levels much higher than those of conventional construction. It minimizes energy expenditure and maintains a comfort temperature year-round without the need for heating systems.