Leveraging AI To Improve IAQ for Peak Efficiency And Workplace Productivity
Impact Summary
Enhanced IAQ by identifying anomalies and complying with global healthy building standards.
Improved workplace productivity and IEQ parameters from data-driven decision-making.
Overview
How important is the quality of air we breathe in our workplaces? Harvard's Healthy Buildings program links poor IAQ to lower cognitive function and less productivity in an office. The post pandemic need for a healthier workplace has been a driving force behind this new awareness. Hence, organisations are seeking building technologies that can align their workplace with human wellness.
Ecolibrium's flagship AI/ML decarbonisation solution, SmartSense, demonstrated its broad applicability by enhancing IAQ and fostering a healthier, more productive workplace at a leading bank in Asia
The Challenge
Poor IAQ (Indoor Air Quality), has been linked with lowered cognitive functioning, thus lowering productivity. Combined with the need for a healthier workplace as employees returned to their desks after the pandemic, improving the IAQ has become a priority for responsible organisations. This was the situation at a leading bank in Asia, where the need for a healthier and safer workplace was recognised, triggering a search for a partner who would be able to deliver this along with an increase in productivity.
Ecolibrium’s flagship AI/ML decarbonisation platform, SmartSense, was deployed in a pilot floor of their Singapore office, to collect, visualise and analyse the data so that the right insights and recommendations could be generated to get to the optimum IAQ for the space.
The Solution
Asset monitoring across the 33 HVAC units of the facility was put in place to give the client a view of their indoor environmental quality (IEQ) parameters – IAQ, humidity, workspace lighting, temperature, and noise, and thus maintain their optimum state for human wellness. These factors are directly responsible for enhanced occupant comfort, productivity, as well as energy efficiency.
In parallel, The Ecolibrium team installed an 8 in 1 sensor at the Singapore office to effectively track the IAQ parameters – PM2.5, CO2, volatile organic compound (VOC), ambient air temperature, etc., along with the lux levels. The unified panel gave the collaborative team a complete picture of the workplace environment.
This large and continuous data stream was fed into SmartSense proprietary AI/ML algorithms for real time analysis and reporting.
Together with the Ecolibrium data science team, Smartsense AI uncovered an interconnected list of opportunities for improvement that, once acted on, would lead to a sizeable increase in the air quality.
Anomalies were identified in the Air Handling Unit (AHU), revealing a consistent post-lunch surge in CO2 inside the workstations. Despite the fan-coil unit damper being open 89.6% of the time, the AHU failed to effectively mix fresh air, leading to high CO2 levels. This can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, etc., hindering productivity.
The recommendation was made to the bank maintenance team to assess air changes on the floor to rectify it, ensuring a healthier and more conducive work environment.
Smartsense AI’s actionable insights revealed a 40% increase in the indoor air temperature compared to the AHU’s supply air temperature. With the air vent box open only 30% of the time, the floor received chilled air irregularly. Further analysis identified PM 2.5 values within the limit during AHU operational hours but rising when non-operational, especially on weekends. High PM2.5 can affect lung functions and deteriorate conditions like asthma. These insights prompted investigation and appropriate airflow adjustments based on the Ecolibrium team recommendations. The results began to show as soon as the new adjustments went live.
The Outcomes
Through targeted monitoring and recommendations, SmartSense and the Ecolibrium team helped the client ensure optimal conditions, enhancing IAQ and overall workplace well-being for their employees.
Enhanced IAQ by identifying anomalies and complying with global healthy building standards.
Improved workplace productivity and IEQ parameters from data-driven decision-making.
IAQ and IEQ data integration will also eventually extends to energy optimisation, aligning with occupancy and building management system (BMS) data.
Ecolibrium is your technology partner, capable of addressing and enhancing the full spectrum of workplace environmental needs. If your organisation is also looking for innovative solutions to elevate your workplace environment and boost employee well-being, reach out to our team today for a personalised demo and consultation.
