5 Ways to Optimize Indoor Environmental Quality Without Sacrificing Energy Efficiency

This blog is in memory of Chris Hsieh, Applications Engineer. With 27 years of experience at Trane, his intelligence and kindness made a lasting impact. He will be incredibly missed.

When most building owners think about optimizing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) they quickly think of how it may impact energy efficiency and their bottom line. Components of IEQ include air quality, air temperature, lighting, acoustics, indeed almost anything that can impact the experience of being indoors. Studies have shown the importance of IEQ and how it can influence everything from our sense of comfort and well-being to our productivity, even emotional health.

For these reasons, it makes sense to critically consider IEQ when designing building spaces. The good news is that you can do quite a bit to increase your building’s IEQ without significant expenditures of time or resources. The following are five strategies designers may consider to enhance your building’s IEQ without sacrificing energy efficiency.

5 Ways to Optimize Indoor Environmental Quality Without Sacrificing Energy Efficiency

1. Daylighting. People love natural light. Make the most of it by utilizing your windows to their fullest potential. For existing buildings, consider window treatments that can be fully retracted to admit the maximum amount of natural light. They can reduce the need for interior lighting. Are you planning new construction? Consider the usage of windows to increase natural light but mitigate the solar load through shading devices and window coverings.
   
   
2. Maintain your building systems.  Routine maintenance is often overlooked when managing operating costs and maintenance expenses associated with their system. Simple routine maintenance tasks like replacing air filters, inspecting ducts for dust buildup and debris, and cleaning condenser and evaporator coils can help reduce downtime and maximize both comfort and productivity. It’s a proven strategy that can pay for itself. 
   
   
3. Start switching to LED. There are numerous advantages of LED lighting, including significant savings over incandescent or fluorescent lighting in installation, maintenance energy consumption, bulb, and fixture life. Given the advances in intensity and light color, LEDs can contribute positively to alertness and sleep quality¹. Many LED solutions offer advanced features like dimming and color tuning to mimic natural daylight. Specialized controls even allow occupants to customize their lighting, so it’s more closely aligned with their own personal needs.
   
   
4. Smart Controls. Smart buildings are becoming increasingly common as sensor systems become more sophisticated and less expensive. Many of today’s systems support interconnectivity, allowing building owners to manage HVAC, lighting, water, and security systems from a centralized location. The data from a building automation system can even be used to identify opportunities to optimize energy usage during periods of high and low demand. Systems can be set to dynamically adjust temperatures based on the time of day, weather, and occupancy levels. 
   
   
5. Decarbonize. A decarbonization strategy can reduce a building’s carbon footprint, making your buildings operate more efficiently and environmentally friendly. Decarbonization programs can be as simple installing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, smart thermostats, and lighting systems, all the way up to electrified heating systems (such solutions often come with incentives or rebates from local utilities).
    

So, the next time you start thinking about IEQ, don’t worry about sacrificing efficiency. We’ve got the industry and application experience to answer any IEQ or energy management question you have.

^{1. Research Report: Lighting for Healthy Buildings, Guidehouse Insights, Published 4Q 2021}