The intentions behind building cost-efficient workspaces are commendable. It’s proof of business owners’ growing understanding of the impact of interiors on team members’ productivity and morale.    

However, the true success of building these offices will highly depend on its outcome, including the quality of the indoor environment. When an office’s interiors are properly designed, this can significantly impact your occupant’s well-being. Conversely, poorly constructed stations could pose certain risks that could harm both your business and employees.

Consequences of a Poor Indoor Environment

Although these weather-proof commercial buildings were built to conserve energy, these structures aren’t free from flaws. Since most of these workspaces are enclosed, air conditioners will be required to boost comfort and cool the area. 

With no adequate ventilation systems, these air-conditioned offices could trap contaminants and pollutants inside. Exposure to this poor air quality may aggravate allergic reactions and trigger certain respiratory diseases and breathing ailments. When managed improperly, this could affect your staff’s health and work performance.  Thus, this contradicts the purpose of creating these buildings. 

On the other hand, thermal and lighting conditions might also influence your employee’s productivity. For example, a minor deviation in thermal comfort and lighting might make employees either distracted or sluggish. 

Steps to Take to Improve Indoor Environment In Workspaces

However, there are practical strategies you could do to improve your business’s indoor environment. For example, you could invest in a commercial air purifier that can filter out the cold and flu germs surrounding your commercial spaces. Airfixture provides the best commercial air purifier and can decrease indoor air pollution to ensure the health and safety of the occupants. 

Apart from having an air-cleaning device in your business premises, below are other steps that you can take to create a healthy indoor environment.

1. Assess Your Premises

Create a checklist for periodical maintenance and health standards in your office. Evaluate whether or not your newly purchased office equipment, materials, wall painting, and displayed aesthetics aren’t emitting harmful chemicals.  This might endanger you and your employee’s health in the long haul.

Keep in mind that a poor indoor environment can manifest itself in your employee’s performance. For instance, your staff might have problems focusing on a task or are feeling lethargic most days.  These signs might be consequences of a poor indoor environment.

While at it, make sure to check the humidity level in your spaces and look into pipes for leaks and faulty systems.  Doing all these maintenance checks can reveal problematic areas. Thus, it would help you identify whether or not this is a symptom of a bigger issue.  This could assist you to check whether or not the building is running efficiently.  Also, it creates a better solution to save money and prioritize your staff’s well-being.

2. Control the Source

After your maintenance checks, prioritize eliminating materials that are increasing poor indoor air quality. Pesticides, cleaning products, fabrics, certain aerosol products, solvents, combustion sources, and even furniture pieces could gradually release chemical compounds into the air.

You might think that storing these products in safer areas is enough. However, some of these products could still release harmful gases into the air even when not in use. Hence, declutter and get rid of these items immediately.

Preventing such chemicals from entering your office and eliminating the source of these contaminants could help you minimize pollution. This step is crucial to keep track of the air quality on your premises and create a healthier indoor environment.

3. Opt for Safer Alternatives

After eliminating these harmful substances, look for alternatives. You could switch to eco-friendly and organic products that are safer for your occupants. Not only are these more budget-friendly, but these products are also much sustainable for the environment.

As an example, you may choose to replace your cleaning supplies with non-toxic materials. Upon shopping for new pillowcases, focus on organic fabrics, such as cotton and linen. These are hypoallergenic materials and are suited for sensitive skin. You can also look for goods that have been ethically tried and tested to ensure their safety and efficacy. 

If you can, refrain from plastics and treated materials that might be potential sources of harmful chemicals. By reading up and making conscious shopping choices, you could prioritize the health and safety of your occupants.

4. Keep Your Premises Clean

Excess moisture can be a perfect environment for mold and bacteria to thrive, posing serious risks and making your staff sick. With this in mind, make sure to have scheduled maintenance and janitorial clean-ups on your premises. You may create workplace policies such as clean as you go, clear away clutter, clean up spills, and throw litter before it starts to pile up.

Remediating the damage and harm brought by mold and mildew is quite pricey compared to preventing their growth. Thus, make sure to keep your premises tidy and germ-free. Notably, an office that’s free from the presence of mold, dust, and contaminants may help you ensure your occupants are inhaling clean air. 

5. Introduce Fresh Air

Apart from keeping your areas clean, scout for other ways to increase the indoor air quality in your offices. You can look into an array of options that could help you minimize the presence of particles and pollutants in the air.

You may also buy and display a few indoor plants on your premises. Studies have shown that houseplants can absorb harmful substances from the air, especially in closed spaces.

Aside from minimizing the presence of toxins in the air, plants can transform your space and make it more inviting. Investing in a few greeneries may also make your workspaces visually satisfying, which can boost comfort and aesthetics.

Final Thoughts

When building cost-efficient offices, it’s important to consider the health requirements and interior design standards.  This is to ensure the newly-built facility provides value to you and your occupants.  If you’re planning to upgrade your business’s premises, follow the steps above to help you create a well-suited environment that could contribute to your employee’s morale and performance.