Clean indoor air can increase creativity
January 8, 2025
This is an updated version of a 2023 post on clean indoor air
There are no windows to open in most American workplaces, so indoor air quality is a product of air exchanges, air filtering, occupancy, and volatile and other airborne substances. We know that better indoor air quality is associated with a decrease in the risk of transmission of respiratory viruses - especially important now as rates of influenza, COVID-19, and RSV are on the rise. There is also good evidence that better indoor air quality is associated with better concentration and higher productivity in the workplace.
Researchers from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health published a study this month showing that better indoor air quality is also associated with more creativity. Researchers followed 87 knowledge workers in four countries who worked in environments with consistent and accurate air quality monitoring, and found that each 100 part per million increase in carbon dioxide was associated with a 3% decrease in fluency, a 4% decrease in flexibility and an 11% decrease in originality.
This new research confirms a Singaporean study published in late 2023 that demonstrated that undergraduate and graduate students built more imaginative and sophisticated Lego models when they were in rooms with better filtration of organic air pollutants.
The CDC issued new guidelines for air exchanges and air filtration in May, 2023 which could help decrease the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases and could also improve productivity and creativity. The American Society of Heat, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) also issued new draft standards that would require higher levels of air exchanges in schools, hospitals and workplaces.
The CDC guidelines are not enforceable regulations. Still, building operators now have clear guidance to aim for five complete air exchanges per hour, which is consistent with what public health experts recommend. Here is a link to the latest American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) position paper on indoor air standards. ASHRAE guidelines are often the basis of building codes.
There is a cost to improving the quality of indoor air. Bringing in more outdoor air means conditioning it (heating in the winter and cooling in the summer), and higher efficiency filters make air handling units work harder. Nonetheless, many companies can make small adjustments to their existing air handling systems to improve indoor air quality.
Photos of the carbon dioxide meter that I bring to in-person meetings. These are photos of CO2 levels at the beginning of a meeting of 8 people in a conference room, and 20 minutes later. Note that carbon dioxide at levels of over 1000 is not harmful, but is an indication that the air is not being exchanged effectively so the risk of transmitting a viral illness is higher. At that point, I opened the door and the CO2 level declined back to under 800.
Some schools have installed CO2 monitors in classrooms to demonstrate their concern for clean indoor air. Here’s a link to the public-facing website where the Boston Public Schools disclose indoor air quality.
I’m aboard an airplane as I finish this note, and the CO2 started at 570 and is now at 1072. Given the level of coughing, I’m pretty happy to be wearing my N95 mask.
Implications for employers:
Following current CDC and ASHRAE guidelines, even in buildings where this is not a legal requirement, can reduce worker illness and improve productivity and happiness
Companies can install CO2 monitors in portions of the workplace that are high risk, such as small break rooms or crowded factory floors.
Companies can communicate about their efforts to offer cleaner air to demonstrate their concern for employee wellbeing.
Thanks for reading. You can find previous posts in the Employer Coverage archive
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Illustration by Dall-E