New research from ALECTIA demonstrates the economic benefits of improvements to the indoor climate and increased productivity.

Much research has already shown that there is a relationship between the indoor climatic conditions we work in and our productivity, and now this can be quantified in money terms: Kasper Lynge in an industrial PhD sponsored by the Danish consulting company ALECTIA, in co-operation with the Centre of Indoor Climate and Energy of the Technical University of Denmark, demonstrates how improvements lead to a positive impact on the bottom line.

The project examines the connection between the indoor climate and productivity in workplaces, and the payback times, when investing in improved indoor climate, are often as low as one to two years.

“I have developed a concrete and workable model for estimating the economical consequences of improving the indoor climate in relation to productivity. The research has concentrated on the impact of temperature and air quality on mental performance capability. The productivity models were checked against economy considerations in the form of life cycle analyses and payback times of investments in indoor climate improvements”, says Kasper Lynge who has been doing research in this field for the past three years.

“The economic benefits of an improved indoor climate are naturally dependant on the actual case, but in most cases, the bottom line of the enterprise is positively affected. The results show that it is especially advantageous to invest in measures that improve the air quality, where the payback time is as low as one year. The productivity is also influenced by temperature, and with the right preparatory work in the design phase, it is possible to minimize the worst effects from the temperature on productivity. But for instance, in buildings with large glass facades facing south without adequate solar protection, the temperature effects on productivity are significant, and so the payback time of improving the thermal conditions could be less than two years”.

In addition to the economic benefit from an increased productivity, there are a number of side benefits, which have not been taken into account in the economic calculations of the project. These may be e.g. less complaints from the employees, a lower rate of absence from illness, better staff retention and an enhanced company image.