Two global crises — the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change — have forced us to rethink the way we operate buildings. But what happens when the precautions taken to combat each come into conflict? Business leaders not paying attention to these potential issues could soon be caught off guard.
Designing Buildings that Are Both Well-Ventilated and Green
Extra ventilation often means using more energy — but it doesn’t have to.
January 09, 2023
HBR Staff/Simone Hutsch/Sharon Pittaway/Unsplash
Summary.
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased pressures for companies to ensure workspaces are better ventilated. But eco-friendly design guidelines call for ensuring that energy heating or cooling such spaces isn not wasted. Are healthy and green building principles in conflict? They don’t have to be. Several actions, such as regular building tune-ups, filters, air-quality monitoring, and electrification, can lead to progress on one front without diminishing it on the other.