Good air quality increases performance in the office.
According to Harvard researchers, who published the study on Environmental Health Perspective, people who work in well aerated premises, with low CO2 and indoor pollution levels, achieve better scores in cognitive functions compared to people whose offices are less green, with pollution and CO2 levels considered to be standard.
The researchers focused on the impact of room ventilation, chemicals and CO2 on workers’ cognitive functions by exposing 24 workers to different levels of CO2, ventilation and VOC concentrations, commonly emitted in offices. Participants exposed to premises with the best air quality, achieved on average double scores in cognitive performance compared to those who worked in conventional premises.
The researchers also underline the impact of CO2 levels: the average score drops when the CO2 level increases. “These results point to the fact that even modest improvements in the quality of indoor air might have a deep impact on workers’ decision-making performance,” said Joseph Allen of Harvard University, the main author of the study.
According to Harvard
researchers, who published the study on Environmental Health Perspective,
people who work in well aerated premises, with low CO2 and indoor pollution
levels, achieve better scores in cognitive functions compared to people whose
offices are less green, with pollution and CO2 levels considered to be
standard.
The researchers focused on the impact of room ventilation, chemicals and CO2 on
workers’ cognitive functions by exposing 24 workers to different levels of CO2,
ventilation and VOC concentrations, commonly emitted in offices. Participants
exposed to premises with the best air quality, achieved on average double
scores in cognitive performance compared to those who worked in conventional
premises.
The researchers also underline the impact of CO2 levels: the average score
drops when the CO2 level increases. “These results point to the fact that even
modest improvements in the quality of indoor air might have a deep impact on
workers’ decision-making performance,” said Joseph Allen of Harvard University,
the main author of the study.
Newsletter
Sabiana and Expo.
The Azerbaijan pavilion was one of the most admired at the Expo.
The itinerary devised by the designers winds through three glass spheres on several levels, representing three different biospheres. The first represents landscapes, the second Azerbaijan’s nine climatic zones and the third represents traditional cultures and innovation.
The country’s natural, agricultural and productive resources are shown on three levels, connected by escalators. The structure’s air-conditioning was not easy to install, also owing to its spherical shape. Essentially, it was required to find quite a low AHU that still had sufficient air flow and power to cool and heat the premises, which owing to the large glazed surface had a high sensitive thermal load – all that with a noiseless machine.
Sabiana’s OCEAN solved these issues.
The Azerbaijan pavilion was
one of the most admired at the Expo.
The itinerary devised by the designers winds through three glass spheres on
several levels, representing three different biospheres. The first represents
landscapes, the second Azerbaijan’s nine climatic zones and the third
represents traditional cultures and innovation.
The country’s natural, agricultural and productive resources are shown on three
levels, connected by escalators. The structure’s air-conditioning was not easy
to install, also owing to its spherical shape. Essentially, it was required to
find quite a low AHU that still had sufficient air flow and power to cool and
heat the premises, which owing to the large glazed surface had a high sensitive
thermal load – all that with a noiseless machine.
Sabiana’s OCEAN solved these issues.
Newsletter
Upcoming extension until 2016 of energy upgrading bonuses.
The option of extending until December 2016 of the two tax reliefs, expiring on 31 December 2015, is becoming more and more likely.
The Ministers for Economy, Pier Carlo Padoan, and Infrastructure and Transport, Graziano Delrio, agree on extending by one more year the 65% Ecobonus for energy upgrading of buildings and the 50% bonus on renovations.
In all likelihood, the two reliefs will be extended at the same conditions currently in force. In any case, the new rules will be defined in the 2016 Stability law, in the first draft stage at the Ministries.
The option of extending until
December 2016 of the two tax reliefs, expiring on 31 December 2015, is becoming
more and more likely.
The Ministers for Economy, Pier Carlo Padoan, and Infrastructure and Transport,
Graziano Delrio, agree on extending by one more year the 65% Ecobonus for
energy upgrading of buildings and the 50% bonus on renovations.
In all likelihood, the two reliefs will be extended at the same conditions
currently in force. In any case, the new rules will be defined in the 2016
Stability law, in the first draft stage at the Ministries.
Newsletter
The new rules for the energy certification of buildings are operative.
The decrees of the Ministry for Economic Development complementing the regulatory framework on the energy performance of buildings, come into force today, October 1st.
The new regulations for Certification of buildings’ Energy Performance (APE 2015) are contained in the decree “Guidelines for the energy certification of buildings”: the new APE is the same throughout the country and offers to citizens, Administrations and operators more information concerning the efficiency of the building and installations, for easier comparison of the energy quality of different properties, with the aim of steering the market towards buildings with better energy quality.
The energy ratings go from seven to ten: class A4 is the best and class G is the worst. It is mandatory for at least one inspection by the auditor in charge of drawing up the APE to certify the class the property belongs to.
The APE must also indicate proposals to improve the building’s energy efficiency and provide information on financial incentives to implement them.
Finally, the decree establishes a national database of energy certificates (SIAPE), by defining a template for sale and rental ad, that standardises the information on the building’s energy quality.
The new methods for calculating the energy performance and the new minimum efficiency requirements are defined by the decree on “Methods for calculation of performance and minimal requirements”. The decree strengthens the minimal energy standards for new buildings and for renovated ones, and defines the parameters for buildings involved in mere energy upgrades (building enclosure and utility installations).
However, for newly constructed buildings and for those undergoing significant renovations, the minimum requirements to be complied with are obtained by comparing the building with a reference building (identical by geometry, orientation, location, intended use).
Application of the regulations is effective immediately and consistently in all Regions.
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Guidelines
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Annex 1
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Annex A
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Annex B
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Annex C
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Annex D
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 - Minimal Requirements
The decrees of the Ministry
for Economic Development complementing the regulatory framework on the energy
performance of buildings, come into force today, October 1st.
The new regulations for Certification of buildings’ Energy Performance (APE
2015) are contained in the decree “Guidelines for the energy certification of
buildings”: the new APE is the same throughout the country and offers to
citizens, Administrations and operators more information concerning the
efficiency of the building and installations, for easier comparison of the
energy quality of different properties, with the aim of steering the market
towards buildings with better energy quality.
The energy ratings go from seven to ten: class A4 is the best and class G is
the worst. It is mandatory for at least one inspection by the auditor in charge
of drawing up the APE to certify the class the property belongs to.
The APE must also indicate proposals to improve the building’s energy
efficiency and provide information on financial incentives to implement them.
Finally, the decree establishes a national database of energy certificates
(SIAPE), by defining a template for sale and rental ad, that standardises the
information on the building’s energy quality.
The new methods for calculating the energy performance and the new minimum
efficiency requirements are defined by the decree on “Methods for calculation
of performance and minimal requirements”. The decree strengthens the minimal
energy standards for new buildings and for renovated ones, and defines the
parameters for buildings involved in mere energy upgrades (building enclosure
and utility installations).
However, for newly constructed buildings and for those undergoing significant
renovations, the minimum requirements to be complied with are obtained by
comparing the building with a reference building (identical by geometry,
orientation, location, intended use).
Application of the regulations is effective immediately and consistently in all
Regions.
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Guidelines
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Annex 1
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Annex A
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Annex B
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Annex C
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Annex D
Ministerial Decree 26/06/2015 -
Minimal Requirements