Join us for a special episode as regular host Jon Holmes becomes our guest, sharing his experience at the UN's - Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action - event during Climate Week 2025.
Hear powerful excerpts from world experts including Dr. Jagat Narula's stunning mummy research revealing 1,000-year-old evidence of pollution-caused disease, Rachel Hodgson's announcement of a groundbreaking Global Commission, and Professor Joseph Allen's call to recognize that; the person who manages your building can have a bigger impact on your health than your doctor.
The commitments made and initiatives launched at that event, are truly a pivotal moment in the global clean air movement. Listen now to discover all.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
ABOUT OUR HOST
Jon The Filter Guy Holmes serves as the regular host of Camfil Let's Talk Clean Air podcast, where he explores air quality issues with industry experts and thought leaders. In this special episode, Jon becomes the featured guest after attending the historic Healthy Indoor Air: A Global
Call to Action event at the United Nations on September 23, 2025.
His firsthand experience at this landmark gathering provided unique insights into the global movement to recognize clean indoor air as a fundamental human right and the launch of unprecedented international initiatives to improve air quality worldwide.
Featured UN Speakers in the episode include:
MORE INFORMATION
There is a wealth of industry information on air quality and how to improve it on our website at camfil.com
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by DustPod.io
QUOTES
KEYWORDS
#airquality #globalstandards #indoorairquality #IAQ #airqualityeducation #airqualitystandards
Building managers face a critical dilemma when implementing air quality monitoring systems: how to educate occupants about invisible health threats, without creating panic or overwhelming them with real-time data alerts.
This episode explores practical ways for effective air quality communication, including customizable notification systems that adapt to different comfort levels and gamification approaches that engage rather than frighten. We cover the science behind particulate matter, debunks common myths about building immunity to pollutants, and introduce the groundbreaking Global Open Air Quality Standards (GO AQS) initiative.
Our guest Sotirios Papathanasiou is a world-leading air quality expert, author of the "See the Air" blog, and spearheads the GO AQS project involving 150 global experts. He has over a decade of experience helping organizations implement practical air quality monitoring solutions without overwhelming building occupants.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Impact of Covid-19 on air quality awareness
● Educating the public without fear
● Myths about particulate matter and CO2 as a pollutant
● Need for Global Open Air Quality Standards
● The challenges of setting standards
● Air Quality as a human right
GUEST DETAILS
Sotirios Papathanasiou is an air quality expert with substantial experience in the field of environmental issues but particularly indoor air pollution. His is the author of three books on air pollution, for adults and kids as well as curate a popular web blog ‘See the Air’. He has a special interest in IoT devices for personal AQM/low-cost sensors and has been researching how start-ups rise and fall in this sector.
http://goaqs.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sotirios-papathanasiou/
MORE INFORMATION
There is also a wealth of industry information on air quality and how to improve it on our website at camfil.com
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by DustPod.io
QUOTES
Once you fix indoor air quality, you fix all the other problems like Covid or any others transmissible from airborne particles in the environment.
- Sotirios Papathanasiou
We do find different ways to educate people and reach out to their lives without creating that fear by for example enabling gamification through specific apps. They can teach you about air quality but at the same time keep you engaged to learn more and start taking the right decisions
- Sotirios Papathanasiou
Size matters. PM 2.5 is a very well-studied pollutant, so it's very well linked with health outcomes. We understand better when we see a value that is related to mass.
- Sotirios Papathanasiou
KEYWORDS
#airquality #globalstandards #indoorairquality #IAQ #airqualityeducation #airqualitystandards
Building managers are facing the seemingly impossible challenges of balancing indoor air quality and sustainability.
Today we learn how striking this balance is not only achievable, but actually can go hand in hand with decarbonization goals. We hear from a renowned expert in building science who has been instrumental in shaping industry standards in filter innovation and working with ASHRAE to curate better IAQ standards, while holding onto a passion for the all important energy efficiency.
A Partner at D ZINE Partners, she leads the research of “Air as a Service” around indoor air quality, filtration and air cleaning systems. It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Marwa Zaatari.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Marwa Zaatari is a renowned expert and influential leader in the realms of building science and indoor air quality (IAQ). Her innovative work has earned her the prestigious title of ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer. At the forefront of HVAC design innovation, Dr. Zaatari has been instrumental in shaping industry standards through her involvement in various ASHRAE committees. Dr. Zaatari's contributions extend to the USGBC School Air Quality Leaders Network Technical Advisory Committee and she has also served as chair for the LEED IAQP Working Group.
Dr. Marwa Zaatari is Partner at D ZINE Partners. She leads the research of “Air as a Service” around indoor air quality, filtration and air cleaning systems, and IAQ measurements to design and operate buildings for optimal energy and people efficiency.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzaatari
MORE INFORMATION
Let's Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by DustPod.io
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
There is a misconception that you cannot achieve IQ and energy efficiency. - Dr. Marwa Zaatari
If you follow prescriptive approaches, you're gonna miss out on a lot. - Dr. Marwa Zaatari
ASHRAE 241 went a step beyond our existing minimum ventilation standards by actually having an operation focus. - Dr. Marwa Zaatari
Filter design should be part of what we're going to do, part of studying a filter, quality of the filter, cost of the filter, over the lifetime of the filter. - Dr. Marwa Zaatari
Even for a low efficiency filter you need to make sure that the filter is well placed. - Dr. Marwa Zaatari
KEYWORDS
#IAQ #sustainability #energyefficiency #filter #innovation #HVAC #MERV ratings
Managing indoor air quality can have many benefits but one of the most important factors is safety.
Today we’re delving into the world of explosion prevention, and how dust can actually be a dangerous trigger. We look at the important combination of dust collectors and filters in volatile environments and what companies can implement to mitigate harm.
Our guest is a leading expert in explosion protection and industrial safety, with an array of technical solutions to prevent explosions. He is Business Development Manager at Fike Corporation, Carson Stephens.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Carson Stephens has extensive experience in engineering and business development, currently serving as the EP Business Development Manager for Strategic & OEM Accounts at Fike Corporation since August 2018. Previously, Carson held roles such as Explosion Protection Application Engineer II and Explosion Protection Application Specialist at Fike Corporation, and worked as a Process Engineer at DaVinci Roofscapes and Peterson Manufacturing Co. Educationally, Carson holds a Master of Business Administration in Ethical Strategic Leadership from the University of Central Missouri, earned between 2015 and 2017, and a Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering Technology from Pittsburg State University, completed in 2012.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carson-stephens-58696b82/
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
Fike was founded on engineering solutions to help keep people safe when they wouldn't expect they would need to be. - Carson Stephens
There's a lot of things that people wouldn't assume are combustible that in the right conditions are, like really fine dust. - Carson Stephens
Just keeping your facility clean is the number one thing. - Carson Stephens
Make sure that those filters are changed on a regular basis, and that they're inspected, because if they're not, then you're going to let an explosion by. - Carson Stephens
The highest risk or highest prioritized risk area within the facility should be tackled first, and can probably be done more cost effectively than if you killed somebody. - Carson Stephens
KEYWORDS
#Airquality #explosion #prevention #dust #combustible #industrialsafety #HEPAfilters #manufacturing
Although health consequences may be important to an individual, how can we communicate the importance of managing indoor air quality to the numerous stakeholders involved in managing built environments?
Today, we’re continuing our conversation about healthy buildings and why they should be a priority for building managers. We’re back with Dr. John McKeon, who believes we’re in the middle of a shift in thinking about the design and operation of buildings, but that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to paint a picture of the benefits and ROI of investing in indoor air quality.
Our expert guest is a medical doctor who pivoted into the world of indoor air quality after being shocked by the interplay between the built environment and asthma and allergy triggers within indoor spaces. He is the CEO of Allergy Standards and Principle at iAIR Institute, Dr John McKeon.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
John is principal at the iAIR Institute, a medical entrepreneur and currently the CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd (ASL), an international standards and certification body, a company he founded while working as an Emergency Room Doctor. As the founder he has led the development of an international intellectual property portfolio of patents and trade mark applications and negotiated complex licensing agreements with multinationals such as P&G and 3M. Along the way he has secured significant equity investments as well as academic and industry grant awards. As a serial entrepreneur, John is involved in a number of successful healthcare related ventures.
https://www.allergystandards.com/dr-john-mckeon/
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
It is now part of an architect's remit to design buildings to optimize health and well being outcomes. - Dr. John McKeon
We can get what I call the three P's, it can be good for the planet, good for people, and good for profit. - Dr. John McKeon
You've all these people doing research and great research around healthy buildings, but very often they don't talk to each other. - Dr. John McKeon
KEYWORDS
#Indoorairquality #health #multi-disciplinary #budget #retrofits #energyefficiency #building #HR
We spend about 80% of our time indoors, and as concern for how bad indoor air quality can impact us grows, so does the demand for healthier, well-managed spaces.
With the surge in personal technology that allows us to ‘hack our health’, future innovations could see real-time information on how the air we’re breathing is affecting us. Today we hear how awareness and improved biomarker technology can be used to combat sick building syndrome, creating a healthier environment that protects people, and businesses, from the consequences of bad air.
Our expert guest is a medical doctor who pivoted into the world of indoor air quality after being shocked by the interplay between the built environment and asthma and allergy triggers within indoor spaces. He is the CEO of Allergy Standards and Principle at iAIR Institute, Dr John McKeon.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
John is principal at the iAIR Institute, a medical entrepreneur and currently the CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd (ASL), an international standards and certification body, a company he founded while working as an Emergency Room Doctor. As the founder he has led the development of an international intellectual property portfolio of patents and trade mark applications and negotiated complex licensing agreements with multinationals such as P&G and 3M. Along the way he has secured significant equity investments as well as academic and industry grant awards. As a serial entrepreneur, John is involved in a number of successful healthcare related ventures.
https://www.allergystandards.com/dr-john-mckeon/
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
There's lots of research showing that indoor air pollution can be worse than outdoor air pollution. - Dr. John McKeon
It's about education, it's about being informed, but it's also about really good science. - Dr. John McKeon
Our journey started with products with asthma and allergy, but now we've broadened that to health and well being for everybody in the built environment. - Dr. John McKeon
Part of that whole new value proposition of health and well being is employers all need to make sure, well, what's the indoor air quality? Not just IAQ, but IEQ, indoor environmental quality. - Dr. John McKeon
So consumer tech is med tech, and it's about staying healthy. It's not rescue medicine. - Dr. John McKeon
Biomarkers, I believe, are coming, but there's a lot of challenges. - Dr. John McKeon
KEYWORDS
#Indoorairquality #smartbuildings #asthma #VOCs #allergystandards #health #well-being, #biomarkers
Buildings are under increasing pressure — stricter energy regulations, growing concerns about indoor air quality, and the challenge of balancing ventilation with cost.
The new European standard EN 16798-3 changes how buildings manage air. Whether you own, operate, or design buildings, these updates impact you and our guest today is going to break down everything you need to know. He explains what’s changing, what it means, and what you should do next.
Our guest has 20 years’ experience in air ventilation and is Camfil’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Corporate Communication, Tobias Zimmer.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● What’s included in the new EN 16798-3 standard
● WHO's new air quality guidelines
● Impact on everyday building operations and energy performance
● Compliance and cost considerations
● Common mistakes and compliance tools
GUEST DETAILS
Tobias Zimmer, MBA, is Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Sustainability & Corporate Communication Camfil Group, Vice Chairman PC-FIL Eurovent Certification and Advisory Board Member World Filtration Institute. Tobias has 20 years’ experience working in the ventilation industry. He’s also an active member in several industry associations, such as Eurovent and EVIA. Tobias is also deeply involved in the development of international Standards in the fields of air filtration and building ventilation, both at ISO global level and CEN on the European level.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-zimmer-mba-86024317/
MORE INFORMATION
Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/y9zzpu9D1WU
There is also a wealth of industry information on our website at camfil.com
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
The requirements for providing clean air have significantly increased versions versus the 2017 version. - Tobias Zimmer
For particulate matter, the limits had to be decreased significantly. PM 2.5 was actually cut by 50% - Tobias Zimmer
Fulfilling the WHO air quality limits means you're providing an indoor air quality which is healthy to people. - Tobias Zimmer
You got improved performance, you got improved creativity. And of course, you protect the health of your employees. - Tobias Zimmer
Recirculation air has a few risky sides to it. - Tobias Zimmer
KEYWORDS
#airquality #ventilation #filtration #IAQ #energy #WHOguidelines #buildingmanagers #efficiency
Indoor air quality is slowly becoming a mainstream issue, but how can we improve public awareness and emphasize the huge damage it is causing economically, to our health and even our children’s brains?
Today, we hear from one of Australia's lead clean air campaigners, who has been working on a framework to make clean air as important as clean water. Having worked in public health for almost fifteen years, first combating the harms of tobacco, we learn why indoor air needs to be next on the agenda and the pathways experts are suggesting to get there.
Our guest has been working with governing bodies and multi disciplinary teams to progress Australia's indoor air quality. With a background in radiation oncology and a passion for sustainability, she is currently working with the Burnett Institute and University of Melbourne. It’s a pleasure to welcome Professor Bronwyn King.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Bronwyn King AO is a social entrepreneur, movement maker and a globally renowned humanitarian on a mission to inspire and transform organisations into purpose driven businesses. She is a sustainability expert, company director and radiation oncologist who has worked with everyone from the terminally ill to the fittest athletes in the Australian Swim Team.
Dr Bronwyn King AO is pleased to be working with Burnet Institute and University of Melbourne to help advance Australia’s progress on indoor air quality, building on lessons from Australia’s world leading approach to tobacco control.
Prof Bronwyn King AO, Professor (Hon.) Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
The invisibility of air quality is one of the greatest challenges that we have. - Bronwyn King
I think indoor air quality is the next thing for public health to really address when it comes to education. - Bronwyn KIng
Transparency is always a good thing when it comes to public health because it helps people be engaged, and it encourages people to do the right thing. - Bronwyn King
If you are breathing poor quality air, your health is impacted dramatically. The brain, the lung, the heart, every body system depends on quality, safe air. - Bronwyn King
Clean air makes clever kids. - Bronwyn King
Poor air quality is costing us billions of dollars right now, billions. - Bronwyn King
KEYWORDS
#airquality #cleanair #IAQ #publichealth #tobacco #climate #bushfires
Building managers are facing a pressing challenge, how to balance operational costs with the growing demand for better environments and sustainability.
Today, we discuss the true cost of ignoring energy efficiency, from cost to carbon penalties and unhappy tenants. We explore the financial advantages, including potential cost savings and improved property values, as well as practical strategies for overcoming common barriers to implementing these systems.
Our guest today is a leading expert in all things energy efficiency, with over two decades of experience in helping organizations optimize their energy use. It is a pleasure to welcome the founder of Selling Energy, Mark Jewell.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Mark Jewell is the President and co-founder of Selling Energy.
He is a subject matter expert, coach, speaker and best-selling author focused on overcoming barriers to implementing projects. Mark teaches other professionals and organizations how to turbocharge their sales success.
Through his in-person and online training, daily blog, app for iOS, app for Android, YouTube, and Social Media accounts, Mark Jewell provides ideas and inspiration for everyone from the eco-entrepreneur to those with Fortune 500 companies.
https://www.sellingenergy.com/about-mark-jewell
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
A lot of people forget that the only reason we have buildings that are occupied by occupants is to make sure those occupants are productive and safe. - Mark Jewell
I think you need to expand the definition of efficiency to more than just energy efficiency. It's the efficiency of labor too. - Mark Jewell
Do you really want to throw out four filters a year when you could throw out one? The landfill is not free, right? - Mark Jewell
One of the biggest barriers is ignorance. I think that it's possible that a lot of people don't really know what's possible. - Mark Jewell
It used to be a green premium, now it's a brown discount if your building does not have systems that can guarantee the health and safety of the occupants. - Mark Jewell
KEYWORDS
#energy #efficiency #airquality #HVAC #carbonfootprint #buildingmanagers #filter
We know that bad air quality can have a major impact on our health, but new emerging research is showing it can also affect our cognitive function.
Today we hear from a neuroscientist who is passionate about the link between IAQ and creativity. His recent study used the Serious Brick Play method to measure if better air quality can increase our creative thinking and the results are very impressive!
Our guest is a Senior Researcher at the Singapore-ETH Centre and holds a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and master's in Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Adam Charles Roberts.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Adam Charles Roberts is a Senior Researcher at the Singapore-ETH Centre, focusing on Social and Financial Resilience and interactions with new technology. Previously, he was a Senior Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, studying air quality’s effects on cognition and the psychology of work environments, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford, studying Neurolinguistics.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-charles-roberts/
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
I suddenly became very interested in the brain. How is the brain working and why does the brain not work as well in certain situations? - Dr Adam Charles Roberts
We used the serious brick play method. The reason for this is we wanted to ensure that we had something that was repeatable and that could be scored by different people. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts
We found that if you change the air quality from the maximum allowable to the level we achieved, you get 11.5% increase in creativity. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts
It's something that's not exactly difficult to achieve, right? We just got some air filters, put them in the aircon system. That was it. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts
People may not know how much creativity they are using in their job, but I think everyone could benefit from improving their creativity. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts
KEYWORDS
#airquality #creativity #cognitive #neuroscience #VOCs #particulatematter #filters
Air filters can be adapted to the needs of your commercial building or home, and your needs may change with the seasons. Working with these changes can be beneficial to balancing efficiency and quality of air you get.
Today we’re diving further into future standards and developments with Kathleen Owen. We get into the imbalance between indoor and outdoor air quality standards, along with ASHRAE Standard 241, which will be official from January 1, 2025, and how that will affect filter requirements.
Our expert guest has over 30 years experience working in the field and is considered the OG of indoor air quality, Kathleen Owen.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in gaseous and particulate matter air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.
Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.
Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owen-4381a21a/
https://dl.ashrae.org/Profile?lectIdx=4166a637-bfd5-45fa-9fc1-00dab658a36d
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
On January 1, 2025, the MERV-A requirement kicks in. The standard itself, other than that, stays the same. - Kathleen Owen
You can change what you're doing and still meet that need for clean air. - Kathleen Owen
The first thing to do is to get your system working the way you thought it was working. - Kathleen Owen
A lot of the effects are, ‘oh, that kid has asthma’ instead of maybe that house has too much something in it. - Kathleen Owen
There are a lot of VOCs that are used in houses and commercial buildings that people want. Perfume, bug spray, cleansers, a lot of them have VOC emissions. - Kathleen Owen
I do know that we're gradually getting more data and more awareness of what the different gases in the air can do to people, but I hope we find more answers and assume that we will. - Kathleen Owen
I think it's critical that we first get air cleaners that put bad stuff into the air off the market. - Kathleen Owen
KEYWORDS
#outdoorair #ashrae #air #merv #particles #indoorairquality #filter #energy
Although indoor air quality may seem like a relatively new topic for most people, there have been experts working in and promoting this field for decades.
Today we meet a pioneer of indoor air quality standards who, despite falling into the career, has an immense passion for promoting better IAQ. We hear about her leading research and testing, including how air quality ratings were developed and simple but great considerations for any HVAC system.
Our guest is considered the OG of everything air quality testing and spent three decades working with RTI International, Kathleen Owen.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in gaseous and particulate matter air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.
Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.
Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owen-4381a21a/
https://dl.ashrae.org/Profile?lectIdx=4166a637-bfd5-45fa-9fc1-00dab658a36d
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
Appendix J is intended to give you a much better estimate of the minimum efficiency of a filter, of a charged media filter, in real life. - Kathleen Owen
If you want better, cleaner air, run the fan more, put in a higher efficiency filter that your fan can work with. - Kathleen Owen
We have a ways to go in terms of getting the filters that we need out there, getting people to use them. - Kathleen Owen
One of the biggest issues with filters, and I know you guys worry about this too, people stick filters into spots they don't fit. - Kathleen Owen
KEYWORDS
#filter #merv #air #ashrae #indoorairquality #hvacsystem #dust
Measuring your indoor air quality will give you a better understanding of your filter needs, but older methods of intermittent and spot checks may not be the most efficient way to protect your occupants health.
Today we hear from an expert who advocates for the importance of real-time air quality monitoring, particularly in schools and similar settings. We learn how the dynamic nature of these buildings, including internal and external factors, requires a more sophisticated approach to air quality management and how HVAC systems can be better optimised to balance IAQ and energy output.
Our guest is passionate about the physical and cognitive benefits of IAQ management in educational settings, and is Founder and CEO of Attune, Dr. Serene Almomen.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Serene Almomen is a prominent figure in the field of air quality monitoring and improvement, particularly focused on enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools.
As the co-founder and CEO of Attune (formerly Senseware), a high-growth technology company, Dr. Almomen has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for IAQ monitoring[2][5].
Attune is an IoT, smart building solution that provides cost-effective and secure wireless solutions to collect data and control all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and environmental systems from your facility.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/serene-al-momen-phd-2915824
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
We learned the hard way that it's a non-negotiable to have clean air that we breathe. You wouldn't drink water if you see that it's dirty. - Dr. Serene Almomen
There are so many dynamic things that are happening externally and internally, that the spot checks would just not capture that. That's where real time becomes really important. - Dr. Serene Almomen
Now, we know that there are multiple sensors that are important and each sensor ties to different aspects of how we're cleaning the air and optimizing indoor air quality in indoor spaces. - Dr. Serene Almomen
What we do to simplify the contaminants is tied to ventilation. So we give a ventilation score versus air quality score. And that's more practical, reasonable and effective. - Dr. Serene Almomen
KEYWORDS
#indoorairquality #filters #ventilation #cleanair #schools #co2 #teachers #health
Healthy air in any building is paramount. If it’s something you want to achieve, the best place to start is to accurately measure the quality of air you currently have.
Today we hear from an expert in air quality measurement, who explains the metrics and gives us the essential knowledge to make informed decisions about indoor air management.
Our guest has been working in air filtration for a long time and is Global Product Manager for Camfil, Matthias Jerosch.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● What we need to accurately measure indoor air quality
● Measurement meters are not all created equal
● Air quality in different environments
● Source contaminants in your workplace
● The future of measurements and standards in IAQ
GUEST DETAILS
Matthias Jerosch is Global Product Manager For Air Cleaners & Containment at Camfil
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-jerosch-6b8586123/
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
Mould and asbestos are sometimes referred to as the ‘silent killers in a building’.
If you have either of these in your building they are going to be a big concern and can have incredibly serious health effects on your occupants. Today, we hear from an expert with over twenty years experience dealing with the most complex indoor air quality, mould, and hazardous building materials issues.
Our guest worked on one of the largest and most comprehensive mould cleanup projects undertaken in Canada and has acted as primary consultant for the development of government mould cleanup guidelines. He is a director with Pinchin Ltd, one of North America's premier environmental, engineering, building science, and health & safety consulting firms, Stephen Booth.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Stephen Booth, CET, LEED AP, RESET AP is Executive Vice President, GTA Indoor Environmental Quality at Pinchin.
Stephen has been employed by Pinchin Ltd. since 1993. Stephen holds a Diploma in Architectural Technology from Centennial College. Stephen is a Certified Engineering Technologist and LEED and RESET Air accredited professional. Stephen has more than 25years of environmental consulting experience and has managed hundreds of projects on behalf of Pinchin Ltd., including mould assessments, hazardous building materials surveys, along with complex abatement projects. This experience extends to industrial, commercial and government projects. Stephen has managed multiple whole building abatement projects for lead, mould, asbestos, and clandestine drug laboratories.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephendbooth/
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io
QUOTES
When you get substantial amounts of mould growth in your building there are a number of health effects that can occur for building occupants, primarily upper respiratory and allergy in nature. - Stephen Booth
Filters are the first line of defense of the air that's coming into the building - Stephen Booth
The measurement part of the samples is probably the least important part of the indoor air quality testing. - Stephen Booth
Offices are generally better from an indoor air quality point of view than homes are. - Stephen Booth
Millions of tons of asbestos were put into building materials through the 50s, 60s and 70s. Then, by the 1970s, we started to see that the people who had been working with asbestos 20 years earlier, had a very high rate of lung cancer and restrictive breathing problems. - Stephen Booth
KEYWORDS
#buildingmanager #mold #mould #asbestos #indoorairquality #airfilters
Our last episode, ‘The Professor’, was a masterclass of clear, science-backed guidance on improving indoor air, from a globally recognized leader in building science.
Jeffrey Siegel gave us really straightforward strategies and showed us how even small changes can meaningfully impact health, wellbeing and cognitive function.
After that podcast, we kept talking about the pros’ and cons’ of handheld sensors, balancing the quality of life and the cost of indoor air quality and some really simple things building managers can look at to get the best air quality at work.
Fortunately, we kept recording that conversation, so we can bring you all of this in a special bonus episode of ‘Let’s Talk Clean Air’ with Professor Jeffrey Siegel, a renowned expert with an academic career in air quality stretching from Berkeley to Texas, to his current position as the Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Jeffrey Siegel, a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializes in creating healthy and sustainable buildings. With expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality, and control of particulate matter, he contributes to research on the indoor microbiome and moisture interactions. Dr. Siegel, a fellow of ASHRAE, teaches courses on indoor air quality and sustainable energy systems. His background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and he was an associate editor for the journal Building and Environment. Previously, he held a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.
https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/jeffrey-siegel/
Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts Manager in Canada. Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, HEPA Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards and Advanced Filtration. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and acts as Chair of several committees in the industry.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes
QUOTES
I think practical advice is important and is kind of in short supply. So the first thing I would say is, whatever decision you're making about air cleaning in your building, make sure you understand how it works and how to use it well. - Jeffrey Siegel
It’s that whole idea of empowering people to first of all think about their indoor air in a formalized way, but also, start the conversations about how we address issues, and I think that's what's so important about initiatives like the Chief Airgonomics Officer - Jeffrey Siegel
On one hand, I love that people are measuring indoor air, the whole problem people like me face is that indoor air is invisible. Bad indoor air and good indoor air look exactly the same, often smell exactly the same, and so, having a sensor there is so important. People learn so much from sensors. In my family in my house, one of the most important sources of indoor air pollution is cooking. - Jeffrey Siegel
Cleaning generates a ton of pollutants, I would never tell people not to clean, but you might want to think about how you're ventilating during cleaning, who is present during cleaning. - Jeffery Siegel
We are being, as a society, kind of economically foolish by not investing in indoor air, because there are these huge benefits, health benefits, productivity benefits, cognitive function benefits, well being benefits. So I think it's really important that we be very sensible in our economic analysis, we always think about the costs, of course, we should also be thinking about the benefits. - Jeffrey Siegel
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
KEYWORDS
#indoorair #indoorairquality #IAQ #filters #particle #mervcertifications #airfiltration
In this episode you will get clear, science-backed guidance on improving indoor air from a globally recognized leader in building science.
Professor Jeffrey Siegel shares straightforward strategies like controlling sources, optimizing ventilation and choosing effective filters. He shares how even small changes can meaningfully impact health, wellbeing and cognitive function. Jeffrey draws on his extensive expertise to help us understand the importance of indoor air quality and how to practically enhance it.
After listening, you’ll come away feeling empowered to take action to improving the air around you.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Why indoor air quality is as important as ever
● The benefits of clean air quality on our health and wellbeing
● Creating a healthy microbiome indoors
● Certifications and regulations for indoor air quality
● Why all air filters are not created equally
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Jeffrey Siegel, a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializes in creating healthy and sustainable buildings. With expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality, and control of particulate matter, he contributes to research on the indoor microbiome and moisture interactions. Dr. Siegel, a fellow of ASHRAE, teaches courses on indoor air quality and sustainable energy systems. His background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and he was an associate editor for the journal Building and Environment. Previously, he held a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.
https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/jeffrey-siegel/
Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts Manager in Canada. Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, HEPA Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards and Advanced Filtration. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and acts as Chair of several committees in the industry.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes
QUOTES
Indoor air quality has not really received the same kind of attention that other environmental issues have received, even with the pandemic. - Jeffrey Siegel
We have this very long list of health effects that come from breathing polluted indoor air, so everything from a variety of cardiovascular outcomes, respiratory outcomes, cancers, and then things that maybe aren't quite part of the conversation yet, but should be, like productivity, well being and cognitive function - Jeffrey Siegel
Even though we don't know everything, we know how to improve indoor air. And it's a very simple model that's been around much longer than I have. And that is, the first thing you do is you get rid of sources. - Jeffrey Siegel
We have about 10 or so bacterial cells in our body for every human cell, we are essentially walking meatbags for microorganisms. We think about ourselves as individuals, but really, we're better described as a collection of microorganisms. And so for things like exposure, indoor exposures and so on, I have to think that those microorganisms are important, but I don't know that we fully understand why or how. - Jeffrey Siegel
One of the smartest things I've ever heard anyone say about indoor air, they said that the whole problem with indoor air from a regulatory standpoint is that no politician in the world is going to tell people that their buildings aren't sanctuaries, especially their homes, because that politician won't be reelected. So we're never going to get that type of regulation or that type of attention. - Jeffrey Siegel
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
KEYWORDS
#airfilter #indoorairquality #microorganisms #mervcertifications #microbiome #airfiltration
Climate change is making wildfires across Canada, the US and other parts of the world more vicious and long-lasting, as landscapes are destroyed and harmful smoke from the fires is spreading thousands of miles away.
Today, we’re going to learn about the worrying impact the fires are having on our air quality and how we can protect ourselves from inhaling particles that could have as detrimental an impact on our health as smoking cigarettes.
Our experts are molecular filtration specialist Jennifer Webb who lives at the epicentre of one of the worst affected places, California, and Jon Holmes, who is Camfil’s National Account Manager in Canada. He’s known as ‘The Filter Guy’ for his passion about managing IAQ to protect our health.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
01:38 The impact of climate change on wildfires
04:53 Damaging particles in wildfire smoke
07:23 Measuring the Six Criteria Air Pollutants
12:20 Personal restrictions as a result of bad AQI
15:28 Actions you can take for better IAQ
17:56 Air quality impact on the workforce
20:53 Maintenance of air filters during wildfire season
22:00 How we can educate ourselves on AQI and IAQ
24:30 How to become a Chief Airgonomics Officer
GUEST DETAILS
Jennifer Webb is Camfil’s Molecular Filtration Segment Manager for Western US and Mexico with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.
Jennifer is responsible for technical sales, marketing and business development of molecular (aka- "carbon" or “gas-phase”) filtration solutions for a wide range of industries and applications, including airports, hospitals, cannabis, cultural heritage preservation, petrochemical, wastewater, pulp and paper, industrial exhaust and biogas.
Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts based out of Toronto. Jon is passionate about Camfil and provides customers with solutions to achieve their energy reduction and sustainability goals.
Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, Hepa Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards, Advanced Filtration, Filter Selection and has operated our Mobile CamTester throughout Alberta to validate filter performance in the field. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and is also the Chair of several committees in the industry. Most recently Jon Holmes has acquired his Fitwel Ambassador Certification and continues to work on his WELL accreditation.
You can find Jon Holmes, aka “Jon the Filter Guy” on LinkedIn where he shares video tips on how to maximize your air filtration value.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
QUOTES
In California we've just had longer and worse droughts. Then, the temperatures from climate change are rising everywhere. We get more and more of these hot days, which means even a small fire just gets worse. - Jennifer Webb
A long time ago a customer asked me “Isn't it okay? Just like when kids play with dirt they get used to the microbes and this kind of thing to have a better immune system?” But the human lung wasn't designed to get stronger with particulates in it, it's just not designed that way. - Jon Holmes
Air quality index is based on six compounds called criteria air pollutants, particulate matter, particularly the PM 2.5. They are all really worrisome because when you're breathing these gases, they're so permanently damaging to your lungs. And in fact, with ozone they will call it getting a sunburn for your lungs. - Jennifer Webb
To put the numbers in perspective, in terms of AQI of say 150. That's equivalent to smoking seven cigarettes. based on standing outside for that entire period of time. In New York City, the AQI was 300, so that's 14 Cigarettes worth of particulate just by exposing yourself to the outdoors. - Jon Holmes
Instead of snow days in Canada, you end up with smoke days in California, where everybody's just canceling activities for the common good of the people. - Jennifer Webb
Making your workplace a clean indoor air shelter is good for business. It's great for people, but it's also good for profit, because you're gonna have happier, healthier workers that can certainly do a better job. - Jon Holmes
Using a filter that's got higher capacity is an investment, but they can make it through a wildfire season if they've got a high enough capacity filter. - Jennifer Webb
KEYWORDS
#wildfires #mervfilter #cleanair #airquality #particulatematter
Air quality is becoming a more important consideration for the building sector, where integrating good air quality systems can help to maintain client and tenant satisfaction.
Today, we’re going to learn how building managers are adapting to new expectations, providing air quality measures efficiently and how air filtration may soon be as ‘in demand’ as water filtration.
Our hands-on guests are Jesse Buhler, Director of Property Management at GWL who has over 15 years experience in the industry, and Jon Holmes, National Account Manager for Camfil in Toronto, who in his 10 years working at Camfil has built a reputation for questioning the status quo.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
01:33 The long term economic savings of premium filters
07:10 The importance of indoor air quality awareness for building managers
09:15 Air quality as an incentive to bring workers back to the office
11:30 How to keep both clients and tenants happy
16:10 Air quality checks and industry best practice
19:25 Sustainability considerations for air filters
23:04 Education and the first steps to bettering your air quality
GUEST DETAILS
Jesse Buhler has worked in residential and commercial real estate management, development and construction for over 15 years.
Currently, he leads a diverse team of professionals who focus on day-to-day management of AAA office properties. He also works with an internal team that focuses on building operational efficiencies, developing and implementing sustainability efforts, making OH&S easy to understand and easy to follow, implementing new property technology to make our lives easier, buildings run more efficiently and tenants happier.
His experience within the industry, as well as growing up within an entrepreneurial family has given him the knowledge, the drive and a unique insight to create and lead effective teams within the Real Estate and Project Management industry.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebuhler/
Jon Holmes has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts based out of Toronto. Jon is passionate about Camfil and provides customers with solutions to achieve their energy reduction and sustainability goals.
Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, Hepa Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards, Advanced Filtration, Filter Selection and has operated our Mobile CamTester throughout Alberta to validate filter performance in the field. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and is also the Chair of several committees in the industry. Most recently Jon Holmes has acquired his Fitwel Ambassador Certification and continues to work on his WELL accreditation.
You can find Jon Holmes, aka “Jon the Filter Guy” on LinkedIn where he shares video tips on how to maximize your air filtration value.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
QUOTES
“That's really when I started to understand and really started to pay attention to indoor air. Covid put everything on steroids where everyone started to learn about it way more. Now the average office manager or facility manager knows infinitely more about indoor air quality than they did before because of the circumstances.” - Jesse Buhler
“I think one of the things to bring humans back to the office is to let them know that the air quality in your office might actually be better than your home.” - Jon Holmes
“What's becoming popular in residential spaces is water filtration. It's clean. You can see if it's clean, you can see if it's not or if it smells weird. Clean air or indoor air quality in your home could be one of the next things that people start to actually pay attention to” - Jesse Buhler
“The number of filters going into a landfill comes into the whole project cost. Looking at the number of filters, and the actual physical amount of waste going into landfill, with a Camfil system it's 20%, or 25%, rather than 100% with a traditional system. There's so many different small pieces that add up to bigger pieces.” - Jesse Buhler
“Growth and comfort cannot coexist. So if we're going to evolve and constantly push the envelope and various industries and companies, we have to look at things differently.” - Jon Holmes
KEYWORDS
#filters
#indoorairquality
#building
#cleanair
#canada
Do chess players perform worse when air quality is lower?
In this episode, we delve into a unique study of over 600 high-level competition games and find out how IAQ affects people and their strategic decision-making. Hugely relevant to offices, and other indoor environments, we discover how the tests were conducted and the shocking results.
TOPICS WE COVER
01:05 The connection between health and the labour market
03:21 Comparing workers and managers to chess players
05:23 How the chess experiment was set up
09:57 Monitoring players performance
13:40 Sharing the results
15:38 Surprising difference between amateur and professionals
17:26 How this applies to the workplace
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Steffen Künn is an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University, and a research fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) as well as the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).
His main research interests include applied labour economics. In particular, he focuses on two topics; the effectiveness of active labour market policy and the effects of indoor environmental conditions on human health, cognition and labour market outcomes.
Contact Steffen: https://sites.google.com/site/steffenkuenn/
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffen-k%C3%BCnn-9b5b0616b/
Research Paper: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4643
ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE
The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.
The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.
The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
Our Vision
Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission
We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!
CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/
