Why Indoor Air Quality is the New Must-Have Feature

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Definitive proof of why a comprehensive package of health solutions is a must-have feature in all new homes. 

Interest in health at home was surging before the COVID-19 pandemic and now is at an all-time high with a heightened awareness on all matters related to indoor air quality. Moreover, this interest in healthy homes is matched by consumers’ willingness to pay more for perceived healthier choices in general.

According to one study, at least 80 percent of home buyers and homeowners of all age groups reported they would pay more for a healthier home. This willingness would be even stronger if the general population knew the amount of air they ingest each day is nearly eight times more than food and nearly four times more than water. This is based on the reported average daily consumption of four pounds of food, eight pounds of water, and 31 pounds of air.

Average daily consumption of food, water, and air.

There are significant risks associated with the huge quantity of air we breathe each day. According to one medical expert in his book Asthma for Dummies, an average six-room home collects about 40 pounds of dust in a single year. More important, a separate scientific study concludes this dust can be laced with 45 toxic chemicals

Other contaminants include microscopic insect-like pests called dust mites that generate some of the most common allergens responsible for allergic reactions and asthma.

One research study concluded that four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. And under the right conditions, thousands of dust mites can live in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets, or curtains in a typical home.

Another study found that 99 percent of individuals had found at least one of eight common allergens in their home with up to 70 percent reporting three or more in their homes.

The bottom line is that U.S. households are experiencing an epidemic of respiratory problems. In fact, the EPA estimates that 19 percent of U.S. households have at least one member with asthma. This includes nearly 37 million Americans living with chronic lung diseases like asthma and COPD which include emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

The Panasonic Intelli-Balance 200 is a ceiling, floor, or wall mount Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) that’s ideal for meeting whole-house ventilation requirements under ASHRAE 62.2. It comes with a MERV 13 filter. MERV 13, MERV 8, and HEPA filter replacements are available. The ERV offers multiple speeds from 0 to 200 CF, which provides customizable supply and exhaust airflow to create balanced positive or negative pressure within a home in any North America Climate Zone. Homeowners can use the boost function for increased ventilation on demand.

This is why a comprehensive package of health solutions is a must-have feature in all new homes. This can be achieved with three key strategies for ensuring good indoor air quality:

• Source Control
• Dilution
• Filtration

Look for a comprehensive set of best practices to apply these strategies in my new book, Housing 2.0: A Disruption Survival Guide. The good news is that empirical evidence shows consumers are willing to spend billions of dollars each year for healthier choices.

While we’re talking about health, I encourage readers to check out Panasonic’s advanced fresh air technology including their new smart systems that integrate monitoring and controls for optimized indoor air quality.