Tom Garrigan, Technical Director, BSRIA
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is a crucial determinant of health, comfort, and productivity. In the UK, where people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, ensuring optimal IEQ should not be considered a luxury but a necessity. As we move towards achieving decarbonising the built environment, the sector faces the significant challenge of improving indoor comfort while drastically reducing carbon emissions.
To understand how this can be done, we first need to drill down into the critical components that make up optimal IEQ.
Good foundations, good environment
Optimal IEQ depends on several interrelated factors, including thermal comfort, air quality, acoustics, and access to natural light. Together, these elements contribute to towards the physical and mental well-being of occupants.
The drive for energy efficiency, however, can risk compromising these factors. For example, measures aimed at reducing heating and cooling demand can inadvertently lead to issues like poor air circulation or inadequate lighting. This highlights the importance of a tailored, holistic strategy for building design and operation.
Overcoming misconceptions
A common misconception is that prioritising decarbonisation goals inevitably means sacrificing comfort or operational quality. Well-designed operational and control strategies can enhance both IEQ and energy efficiency. Achieving this dual goal requires careful planning and the adoption of integrated design principles.
For instance, a fabric-first approach – which prioritises the energy performance of the building envelope – can significantly reduce energy demand. However, neglecting aspects such as moisture control and thermal bridging risks creating problems like condensation or mould, which can harm both buildings and their occupants. Holistic design methodologies that integrate a whole building approach can mitigate such risks, ensuring that decarbonisation and IEQ objectives are met in tandem.
Measuring up
One often-overlooked aspect of improving IEQ and energy performance is thorough diagnostics. To effectively address the unique needs of each building, it’s essential to measure and track performance metrics. As the saying goes, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”
By employing robust diagnostic tools and methods, building operators and designers can identify specific areas for improvement, enabling precise data-driven and meaningful interventions. This not only supports the delivery of decarbonisation targets but also ensures long-term occupant satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Embarking on the decarbonisation journey with the target of achieving Net Zero presents an opportunity to rethink traditional approaches to building design and management. By prioritising integrated design strategies, and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders which considers how a building will be used, the industry can create spaces that are both sustainable and comfortable.
Achieving this vision requires a shift in mindset, emphasising the interconnectedness of energy efficiency and IEQ. With time running out to address the climate emergency, the construction sector must seize this moment to deliver buildings that meet the needs of both people and the planet.
This article appeared in the March 2025 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.
