CH-24-C003 - The Paradox Between Decarbonization and Indoor Air Quality in the Built Environment and Using Technology to Solve the Dilemma

In the past few years, many efforts to provide sustainable solutions in today’s commercial buildings that can reduce the carbon footprint, have been implemented. These often use strategies to reduce energy use as well as use energy from renewable sources. In particular there are the building HVAC systems, which are the largest users of energy. The recent pandemic stressed the importance of providing clean and healthy air to reduce the spread of airborne illnesses. Traditional strategies to improve indoor air quality can often times work at crossed purposes to reducing energy use and reducing the carbon footprint. New strategies using advanced air cleaning technologies can help to achieve both goals of providing clean and healthy air while promoting decarbonization. Also, transparency is critical, as modern building occupants are aware of the impact of indoor environmental quality and the importance of decarbonization and demand to see the efforts and progress of the building to provide a safe, healthy, and sustainable space. Technologies that can monitor indoor environmental quality in real time are a critical part to integrate into these strategies. This paper will study how traditional methods of providing clean and healthy air can often result in greater energy use and increased carbon emissions. Also studied are how newer and proven strategies can provide the indoor air quality needed while helping a building to reduce its carbon footprint. Also studied are effective ways to monitor the air quality to track and communicate successful outcomes. A real-world case study will be discussed as an example of an integrated strategy.