Let’s Talk Clean Air | Camfil

We know that bad air quality can have a major impact on our health, but new emerging research is showing it can also affect our cognitive function. 

Today we hear from a neuroscientist who is passionate about the link between IAQ and creativity.  His recent study used the Serious Brick Play method to measure if better air quality can increase our creative thinking and the results are very impressive! 

Our guest is a Senior Researcher at the Singapore-ETH Centre and holds a PhD in cognitive neuroscience and master's in Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Adam Charles Roberts.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• A father’s brain injury that inspired research in air quality 
• Understanding complex IAQ measures and how they impact the brain 
• Using the serious brick play method to measure creativity 
• Statistical analysis showing an increase in creativity with better air quality 
• Potential benefits of improving air quality for creative thinking and artistry 

GUEST DETAILS 

Dr. Adam Charles Roberts is a Senior Researcher at the Singapore-ETH Centre, focusing on Social and Financial Resilience and interactions with new technology. Previously, he was a Senior Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, studying air quality’s effects on cognition and the psychology of work environments, and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford, studying Neurolinguistics.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-charles-roberts/  

MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

I suddenly became very interested in the brain. How is the brain working and why does the brain not work as well in certain situations? - Dr Adam Charles Roberts 

We used the serious brick play method. The reason for this is we wanted to ensure that we had something that was repeatable and that could be scored by different people. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts 

We found that if you change the air quality from the maximum allowable to the level we achieved, you get 11.5% increase in creativity. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts 

It's something that's not exactly difficult to achieve, right? We just got some air filters, put them in the aircon system. That was it. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts 

People may not know how much creativity they are using in their job, but I think everyone could benefit from improving their creativity. - Dr Adam Charles Roberts 

KEYWORDS

#airquality #creativity #cognitive #neuroscience #VOCs #particulatematter #filters

Air filters can be adapted to the needs of your commercial building or home, and your needs may change with the seasons. Working with these changes can be beneficial to balancing efficiency and quality of air you get. 

Today we’re diving further into future standards and developments with Kathleen Owen. We get into the imbalance between indoor and outdoor air quality standards, along with ASHRAE Standard 241, which will be official from January 1, 2025, and how that will affect filter requirements.

Our expert guest has over 30 years experience working in the field and is considered the OG of indoor air quality, Kathleen Owen. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Balancing energy efficiency and air quality
• Challenges for schools with budget restraints 
• Decarbonization and reducing carbon footprints
• Outdoor air quality standard vs lack for IAQ
• Future of gas and VOC mitigation

GUEST DETAILS
Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in gaseous and particulate matter air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.

Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.

Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owen-4381a21a/ 

https://dl.ashrae.org/Profile?lectIdx=4166a637-bfd5-45fa-9fc1-00dab658a36d  

MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

On January 1, 2025, the MERV-A requirement kicks in. The standard itself, other than that, stays the same. - Kathleen Owen

You can change what you're doing and still meet that need for clean air. - Kathleen Owen

The first thing to do is to get your system working the way you thought it was working. - Kathleen Owen

A lot of the effects are, ‘oh, that kid has asthma’ instead of maybe that house has too much something in it. - Kathleen Owen

There are a lot of VOCs that are used in houses and commercial buildings that people want. Perfume, bug spray, cleansers, a lot of them have VOC emissions. - Kathleen Owen

I do know that we're gradually getting more data and more awareness of what the different gases in the air can do to people, but I hope we find more answers and assume that we will. - Kathleen Owen 

I think it's critical that we first get air cleaners that put bad stuff into the air off the market. - Kathleen Owen

KEYWORDS

#outdoorair #ashrae #air #merv #particles #indoorairquality #filter #energy

Although indoor air quality may seem like a relatively new topic for most people, there have been experts working in and promoting this field for decades. 

Today we meet a pioneer of indoor air quality standards who, despite falling into the career, has an immense passion for promoting better IAQ. We hear about her leading research and testing, including how air quality ratings were developed and simple but great considerations for any HVAC system. 

Our guest is considered the OG of everything air quality testing and spent three decades working with RTI International, Kathleen Owen. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How Kathleen developed a passion for IAQ 
• Introducing efficiency measures with ASHRAE 52.2 Appendix J 
• Differences in MERV filters and performance 
• The need for real-world filter testing 
• Selecting the right air filters and proper installation 

GUEST DETAILS
Kathleen Owen, ASHRAE Fellow, has extensive experience in gaseous and particulate matter air cleaning, determining air cleaning efficiency, and developing test methods to evaluate various air cleaning technologies.

Prior to starting her own company, Kathleen spent 33 years at RTI International where she worked on the ASHRAE and EPA projects that developed ASHRAE air cleaner efficiency test methods 52.2 (for particles), 145.2 (gases), and 185.1 (UV-bioaerosol). She also developed chamber test methods for gas and bioaerosol removal by in-room air cleaners based, in large part, on the AHAM CADR test method. EPA, DOD, ASHRAE and other projects she has worked on included air cleaning, air quality, contaminant transport modelling, technology development, and aerosol penetration of protective garments. Also, after working in the lab for several years, she ran the RTI commercial air cleaner test lab for over 20 years with over 100 different companies as customers over the years. She now works for various customers as a consultant.

Kathleen earned a BS in chemical engineering from NCSU and an MS in Air Pollution Control Engineering from UNC-CH.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-owen-4381a21a/ 

https://dl.ashrae.org/Profile?lectIdx=4166a637-bfd5-45fa-9fc1-00dab658a36d  

MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

Appendix J is intended to give you a much better estimate of the minimum efficiency of a filter, of a charged media filter, in real life. - Kathleen Owen

If you want better, cleaner air, run the fan more, put in a higher efficiency filter that your fan can work with. - Kathleen Owen

We have a ways to go in terms of getting the filters that we need out there, getting people to use them. - Kathleen Owen

One of the biggest issues with filters, and I know you guys worry about this too, people stick filters into spots they don't fit. - Kathleen Owen

KEYWORDS

#filter #merv #air #ashrae #indoorairquality #hvacsystem #dust

Measuring your indoor air quality will give you a better understanding of your filter needs, but older methods of intermittent and spot checks may not be the most efficient way to protect your occupants health. 

Today we hear from an expert who advocates for the importance of real-time air quality monitoring, particularly in schools and similar settings. We learn how the dynamic nature of these buildings, including internal and external factors, requires a more sophisticated approach to air quality management and how HVAC systems can be better optimised to balance IAQ and energy output.

Our guest is passionate about the physical and cognitive benefits of IAQ management in educational settings, and is Founder and CEO of Attune, Dr. Serene Almomen. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Improving air quality in schools for physical and cognitive health 
• Why real-time air quality monitoring is crucial for managing IAQ 
• The dynamic nature of buildings, both internally and externally
• Balancing IAQ, energy savings and return on investment 
• Effectively communicating IAQ data with building occupants 

GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Serene Almomen is a prominent figure in the field of air quality monitoring and improvement, particularly focused on enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools. 

As the co-founder and CEO of Attune (formerly Senseware), a high-growth technology company, Dr. Almomen has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for IAQ monitoring[2][5].

Attune is an IoT, smart building solution that provides cost-effective and secure wireless solutions to collect data and control all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and environmental systems from your facility. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/serene-al-momen-phd-2915824 

MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

We learned the hard way that it's a non-negotiable to have clean air that we breathe. You wouldn't drink water if you see that it's dirty. - Dr. Serene Almomen 

There are so many dynamic things that are happening externally and internally, that the spot checks would just not capture that. That's where real time becomes really important. - Dr. Serene Almomen 

Now, we know that there are multiple sensors that are important and each sensor ties to different aspects of how we're cleaning the air and optimizing indoor air quality in indoor spaces. - Dr. Serene Almomen 

What we do to simplify the contaminants is tied to ventilation. So we give a ventilation score versus air quality score. And that's more practical, reasonable and effective. - Dr. Serene Almomen 

KEYWORDS

#indoorairquality #filters #ventilation #cleanair #schools #co2 #teachers #health 

Healthy air in any building is paramount. If it’s something you want to achieve, the best place to start is to accurately measure the quality of air you currently have.

Today we hear from an expert in air quality measurement, who explains the metrics and gives us the essential knowledge to make informed decisions about indoor air management.

Our guest has been working in air filtration for a long time and is Global Product Manager for Camfil, Matthias Jerosch.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

● What we need to accurately measure indoor air quality
● Measurement meters are not all created equal 
● Air quality in different environments 
● Source contaminants in your workplace 
● The future of measurements and standards in IAQ 

GUEST DETAILS
Matthias Jerosch is Global Product Manager For Air Cleaners & Containment at Camfil 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-jerosch-6b8586123/

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

Mould and asbestos are sometimes referred to as the ‘silent killers in a building’.

If you have either of these in your building they are going to be a big concern and can have incredibly serious health effects on your occupants. Today, we hear from an expert with over twenty years experience dealing with the most complex indoor air quality, mould, and hazardous building materials issues. 

Our guest worked on one of the largest and most comprehensive mould cleanup projects undertaken in Canada and has acted as primary consultant for the development of government mould cleanup guidelines. He is a director with Pinchin Ltd, one of North America's premier environmental, engineering, building science, and health & safety consulting firms, Stephen Booth. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How mould damages buildings and causes health problems 
• Mitigation tactics for mould, fungus and hazardous materials 
• Why testing and management requires professional support 
• Using air filters as the first line of defense for airborne particles
• The fatal impact of asbestos and how to manage it if it’s in your building 

GUEST DETAILS
Stephen Booth, CET, LEED AP, RESET AP is Executive Vice President, GTA Indoor Environmental Quality at Pinchin.

Stephen has been employed by Pinchin Ltd. since 1993. Stephen holds a Diploma in Architectural Technology from Centennial College. Stephen is a Certified Engineering Technologist and LEED and RESET Air accredited professional. Stephen has more than 25years of environmental consulting experience and has managed hundreds of projects on behalf of Pinchin Ltd., including mould assessments, hazardous building materials surveys, along with complex abatement projects. This experience extends to industrial, commercial and government projects. Stephen has managed multiple whole building abatement projects for lead, mould, asbestos, and clandestine drug laboratories.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephendbooth/ 

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Let’s Talk Clean Air is produced for Camfil by Dustpod.io

QUOTES

When you get substantial amounts of mould growth in your building there are a number of health effects that can occur for building occupants, primarily upper respiratory and allergy in nature. - Stephen Booth 

Filters are the first line of defense of the air that's coming into the building - Stephen Booth 

The measurement part of the samples is probably the least important part of the indoor air quality testing. - Stephen Booth 

Offices are generally better from an indoor air quality point of view than homes are. - Stephen Booth 

Millions of tons of asbestos were put into building materials through the 50s, 60s and 70s. Then, by the 1970s, we started to see that the people who had been working with asbestos 20 years earlier, had a very high rate of lung cancer and restrictive breathing problems. - Stephen Booth 

KEYWORDS

#buildingmanager #mold #mould #asbestos #indoorairquality #airfilters

Our last episode, ‘The Professor’, was a masterclass of clear, science-backed guidance on improving indoor air, from a globally recognized leader in building science.

Jeffrey Siegel gave us really straightforward strategies and showed us how even small changes can meaningfully impact health, wellbeing and cognitive function. 

After that podcast, we kept talking about the pros’ and cons’ of handheld sensors, balancing the quality of life and the cost of indoor air quality and some really simple things building managers can look at to get the best air quality at work.

Fortunately, we kept recording that conversation, so we can bring you all of this in a special bonus episode of ‘Let’s Talk Clean Air’ with Professor Jeffrey Siegel, a renowned expert with an academic career in air quality stretching from Berkeley to Texas, to his current position as the Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How building managers should approach indoor air quality and maintenance 
• The pros and cons of handheld air quality sensors 
• Empowering people to make them think about their indoor air quality 
• The middle ground of quality of life and good indoor air
• The economic and health benefits of investing in indoor air societally 

GUEST DETAILS
Dr Jeffrey Siegel, a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializes in creating healthy and sustainable buildings. With expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality, and control of particulate matter, he contributes to research on the indoor microbiome and moisture interactions. Dr. Siegel, a fellow of ASHRAE, teaches courses on indoor air quality and sustainable energy systems. His background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and he was an associate editor for the journal Building and Environment. Previously, he held a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.

https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/jeffrey-siegel/

Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts Manager in Canada. Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, HEPA Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards and Advanced Filtration. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and acts as Chair of several committees in the industry. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes  

QUOTES

I think practical advice is important and is kind of in short supply. So the first thing I would say is, whatever decision you're making about air cleaning in your building, make sure you understand how it works and how to use it well. - Jeffrey Siegel 

It’s that whole idea of empowering people to first of all think about their indoor air in a formalized way, but also, start the conversations about how we address issues, and I think that's what's so important about initiatives like the Chief Airgonomics Officer - Jeffrey Siegel 

On one hand, I love that people are measuring indoor air, the whole problem people like me face is that indoor air is invisible. Bad indoor air and good indoor air look exactly the same, often smell exactly the same, and so, having a sensor there is so important. People learn so much from sensors. In my family in my house, one of the most important sources of indoor air pollution is cooking. - Jeffrey Siegel

Cleaning generates a ton of pollutants, I would never tell people not to clean, but you might want to think about how you're ventilating during cleaning, who is present during cleaning. - Jeffery Siegel 

We are being, as a society, kind of economically foolish by not investing in indoor air, because there are these huge benefits, health benefits, productivity benefits, cognitive function benefits, well being benefits. So I think it's really important that we be very sensible in our economic analysis, we always think about the costs, of course, we should also be thinking about the benefits. - Jeffrey Siegel 

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative was started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

KEYWORDS

#indoorair #indoorairquality #IAQ #filters #particle #mervcertifications #airfiltration

In this episode you will get clear, science-backed guidance on improving indoor air from a globally recognized leader in building science.

Professor Jeffrey Siegel shares straightforward strategies like controlling sources, optimizing ventilation and choosing effective filters. He shares how even small changes can meaningfully impact health, wellbeing and cognitive function. Jeffrey draws on his extensive expertise to help us understand the importance of indoor air quality and how to practically enhance it.

After listening, you’ll come away feeling empowered to take action to improving the air around you.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

● Why indoor air quality is as important as ever 
● The benefits of clean air quality on our health and wellbeing
● Creating a healthy microbiome indoors 
● Certifications and regulations for indoor air quality 
● Why all air filters are not created equally 

GUEST DETAILS
Dr Jeffrey Siegel, a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializes in creating healthy and sustainable buildings. With expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality, and control of particulate matter, he contributes to research on the indoor microbiome and moisture interactions. Dr. Siegel, a fellow of ASHRAE, teaches courses on indoor air quality and sustainable energy systems. His background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and he was an associate editor for the journal Building and Environment. Previously, he held a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.
https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/jeffrey-siegel/

Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts Manager in Canada. Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, HEPA Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards and Advanced Filtration. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and acts as Chair of several committees in the industry. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes  

QUOTES

Indoor air quality has not really received the same kind of attention that other environmental issues have received, even with the pandemic. - Jeffrey Siegel

We have this very long list of health effects that come from breathing polluted indoor air, so everything from a variety of cardiovascular outcomes, respiratory outcomes, cancers, and then things that maybe aren't quite part of the conversation yet, but should be, like productivity, well being and cognitive function - Jeffrey Siegel

Even though we don't know everything, we know how to improve indoor air. And it's a very simple model that's been around much longer than I have. And that is, the first thing you do is you get rid of sources.  - Jeffrey Siegel

We have about 10 or so bacterial cells in our body for every human cell, we are essentially walking meatbags for microorganisms. We think about ourselves as individuals, but really, we're better described as a collection of microorganisms. And so for things like exposure, indoor exposures and so on, I have to think that those microorganisms are important, but I don't know that we fully understand why or how. - Jeffrey Siegel

One of the smartest things I've ever heard anyone say about indoor air, they said that the whole problem with indoor air from a regulatory standpoint is that no politician in the world is going to tell people that their buildings aren't sanctuaries, especially their homes, because that politician won't be reelected. So we're never going to get that type of regulation or that type of attention. - Jeffrey Siegel

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

KEYWORDS
#airfilter #indoorairquality #microorganisms #mervcertifications #microbiome #airfiltration

Climate change is making wildfires across Canada, the US and other parts of the world more vicious and long-lasting, as landscapes are destroyed and harmful smoke from the fires is spreading thousands of miles away. 

Today, we’re going to learn about the worrying impact the fires are having on our air quality and how we can protect ourselves from inhaling particles that could have as detrimental an impact on our health as smoking cigarettes. 

Our experts are molecular filtration specialist Jennifer Webb who lives at the epicentre of one of the worst affected places, California, and Jon Holmes, who is Camfil’s National Account Manager in Canada. He’s known as ‘The Filter Guy’ for his passion about managing IAQ to protect our health. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

01:38 The impact of climate change on wildfires 

04:53 Damaging particles in wildfire smoke 

07:23 Measuring the Six Criteria Air Pollutants 

12:20 Personal restrictions as a result of bad AQI 

15:28 Actions you can take for better IAQ 

17:56 Air quality impact on the workforce 

20:53 Maintenance of air filters during wildfire season 

22:00 How we can educate ourselves on AQI and IAQ 

24:30 How to become a Chief Airgonomics Officer 

GUEST DETAILS
Jennifer Webb is Camfil’s Molecular Filtration Segment Manager for Western US and Mexico with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.

Jennifer is responsible for technical sales, marketing and business development of molecular (aka- "carbon" or “gas-phase”) filtration solutions for a wide range of industries and applications, including airports, hospitals, cannabis, cultural heritage preservation, petrochemical, wastewater, pulp and paper, industrial exhaust and biogas.

Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts based out of Toronto. Jon is passionate about Camfil and provides customers with solutions to achieve their energy reduction and sustainability goals.

Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, Hepa Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards, Advanced Filtration, Filter Selection and has operated our Mobile CamTester throughout Alberta to validate filter performance in the field. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and is also the Chair of several committees in the industry. Most recently Jon Holmes has acquired his Fitwel Ambassador Certification and continues to work on his WELL accreditation.

You can find Jon Holmes, aka “Jon the Filter Guy” on LinkedIn where he shares video tips on how to maximize your air filtration value.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes  

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

QUOTES

In California we've just had longer and worse droughts. Then, the temperatures from climate change are rising everywhere. We get more and more of these hot days, which means even a small fire just gets worse. - Jennifer Webb 

A long time ago a customer asked me “Isn't it okay? Just like when kids play with dirt they get used to the microbes and this kind of thing to have a better immune system?” But the human lung wasn't designed to get stronger with particulates in it, it's just not designed that way. - Jon Holmes 

Air quality index is based on six compounds called criteria air pollutants, particulate matter, particularly the PM 2.5. They are all really worrisome because when you're breathing these gases, they're so permanently damaging to your lungs. And in fact, with ozone they will call it getting a sunburn for your lungs. - Jennifer Webb 

To put the numbers in perspective, in terms of AQI of say 150. That's equivalent to smoking seven cigarettes. based on standing outside for that entire period of time. In New York City, the AQI was 300, so that's 14 Cigarettes worth of particulate just by exposing yourself to the outdoors. - Jon Holmes 

Instead of snow days in Canada, you end up with smoke days in California, where everybody's just canceling activities for the common good of the people. - Jennifer Webb 

Making your workplace a clean indoor air shelter is good for business. It's great for people, but it's also good for profit, because you're gonna have happier, healthier workers that can certainly do a better job. - Jon Holmes 

Using a filter that's got higher capacity is an investment, but they can make it through a wildfire season if they've got a high enough capacity filter. - Jennifer Webb 

KEYWORDS

#wildfires #mervfilter #cleanair #airquality #particulatematter

Air quality is becoming a more important consideration for the building sector, where integrating good air quality systems can help to maintain client and tenant satisfaction. 

Today, we’re going to learn how building managers are adapting to new expectations, providing air quality measures efficiently and how air filtration may soon be as ‘in demand’ as water filtration.

Our hands-on guests are Jesse Buhler, Director of Property Management at GWL who has over 15 years experience in the industry, and Jon Holmes, National Account Manager for Camfil in Toronto, who in his 10 years working at Camfil has built a reputation for questioning the status quo.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

01:33 The long term economic savings of premium filters

07:10 The importance of indoor air quality awareness for building managers 

09:15 Air quality as an incentive to bring workers back to the office 

11:30 How to keep both clients and tenants happy 

16:10 Air quality checks and industry best practice 

19:25 Sustainability considerations for air filters 

23:04 Education and the first steps to bettering your air quality

GUEST DETAILS

Jesse Buhler  has worked in residential and commercial real estate management, development and construction for over 15 years. 

Currently, he leads a diverse team of professionals who focus on day-to-day management of AAA office properties. He also works with an internal team that focuses on building operational efficiencies, developing and implementing sustainability efforts, making OH&S easy to understand and easy to follow, implementing new property technology to make our lives easier, buildings run more efficiently and tenants happier.

His experience within the industry, as well as growing up within an entrepreneurial family has given him the knowledge, the drive and a unique insight to create and lead effective teams within the Real Estate and Project Management industry.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebuhler/

Jon Holmes has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts based out of Toronto. Jon is passionate about Camfil and provides customers with solutions to achieve their energy reduction and sustainability goals. 

Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, Hepa Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards, Advanced Filtration, Filter Selection and has operated our Mobile CamTester throughout Alberta to validate filter performance in the field. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and is also the Chair of several committees in the industry. Most recently Jon Holmes has acquired his Fitwel Ambassador Certification and continues to work on his WELL accreditation. 

You can find Jon Holmes, aka “Jon the Filter Guy” on LinkedIn where he shares video tips on how to maximize your air filtration value.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes 

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.
 

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

QUOTES

“That's really when I started to understand and really started to pay attention to indoor air. Covid put everything on steroids where everyone started to learn about it way more. Now the average office manager or facility manager knows infinitely more about indoor air quality than they did before because of the circumstances.” - Jesse Buhler 

“I think one of the things to bring humans back to the office is to let them know that the air quality in your office might actually be better than your home.” - Jon Holmes 

“What's becoming popular in residential spaces is water filtration. It's clean. You can see if it's clean, you can see if it's not or if it smells weird. Clean air or indoor air quality in your home could be one of the next things that people start to actually pay attention to” - Jesse Buhler

“The number of filters going into a landfill comes into the whole project cost. Looking at the number of filters, and the actual physical amount of waste going into landfill, with a Camfil system it's 20%, or 25%, rather than 100% with a traditional system. There's so many different small pieces that add up to bigger pieces.” - Jesse Buhler 

“Growth and comfort cannot coexist. So if we're going to evolve and constantly push the envelope and various industries and companies, we have to look at things differently.” - Jon Holmes 

KEYWORDS

#filters 
#indoorairquality 
#building 
#cleanair 
#canada

Do chess players perform worse when air quality is lower?

In this episode, we delve into a unique study of over 600 high-level competition games and find out how IAQ affects people and their strategic decision-making. Hugely relevant to offices, and other indoor environments, we discover how the tests were conducted and the shocking results.

TOPICS WE COVER

01:05 The connection between health and the labour market
03:21 Comparing workers and managers to chess players
05:23 How the chess experiment was set up
09:57 Monitoring players performance
13:40 Sharing the results
15:38 Surprising difference between amateur and professionals
17:26 How this applies to the workplace

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Steffen Künn is an Associate Professor at the School of Business and Economics at Maastricht University, and a research fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) as well as the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA). 

His main research interests include applied labour economics. In particular, he focuses on two topics; the effectiveness of active labour market policy and the effects of indoor environmental conditions on human health, cognition and labour market outcomes.

Contact Steffen: https://sites.google.com/site/steffenkuenn/
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffen-k%C3%BCnn-9b5b0616b/ 
Research Paper: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4643

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision
Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission
We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Fungal spores can cause chronic respiratory disease and have become increasingly resistant to treatments. Keeping them out of the air we breathe indoors is vital.

In this episode, we discover more about bioaerosols and how they work. We also learn how some countries can create forecasts to mitigate the effects of pollen allergies and improve our overall well-being.

Our guest David O’Connor is an expert in this area through his work and personal family experience. He is the author of several high-level reports in this area. 

TOPICS WE COVER

00:53 What is a bioaerosol?
01:29 How important are they to humans.
03:50 Pollen vs Fungal Spores vs Your Lungs
05:20 How they affect our day-to-day health.
06:33 How national authorities measure bioaerosols.
08:28 Can forecasting mitigate health symptoms.
10:00 Allergens which lurk indoors in workplaces.
13:30 What to look out for in your own office or facility.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. David O’Connor is currently an Assistant Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences in Dublin City University, where he is involved in physical chemistry undergraduate lecturing and laboratory demonstration.

He formerly worked at Technological University Dublin and has previously held post-doctoral positions at the University of Denver (Marie Curie Fellowship) and the University College Cork, which involved numerous field and laboratory studies on atmospherically relevant species and processes.

Website: https://www.dcu.ie/chemistry/people/david-oconnor
Twitter: @DOC_at_DCU

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision
Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission
We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Our Chief Airgonomics Officer mini-series continues with a look at the CAO initiative in the Pacific Asia region.  We hear from two new Airgonomics Officers who share how the role is developing in real life along with some of the ups and downs they’ve experienced so far.

Firstly we have Jayant Kaushal, who is based in Singapore. Jayant is Vice President of Business Development for Camfil Asia Pacific and also takes a lead in promoting Global Standard ISO 16890 & Eurovent in the region.

From Shanghai, we have Chen Xin (Sam), who works as a Product Manager for Camfil China and also participates in the preparation of other national and group standards.

TOPICS WE COVER

·         Why they volunteered for the role

·         The first step taken by every CAO

·         What benefits a CAO brings to their colleagues and business

·         Differing Air Quality Standards in Asia

·         How Asian business owners react

·         Is improving air quality expensive

·         How to get started

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Jayant Kaushal, based in Singapore, is Vice President of Business Development for Camfil Asia Pacific. Since joining Camfil in 2015 he has been responsible for Air Filters for IAQ, Air Cleaners/ Air Purifiers and Brand Marketing. He also takes a lead in promoting global standard ISO 16890 & Eurovent in Asia Pacific region. Jayant has also been a member of a task force committee, set up by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) for developing Singapore Green Mark scheme for Air Filters.   
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayant-kaushal-b3b2221/ 

Chen Xin (Sam), is based in Shanghai and works as a Product Manager for Camfil China. For the past ten years he has been responsible for different air filtration projects, with lots of experience in both comfort and clean room applications. He also participates in the preparation of national and group standards: GB/T 13554 High-efficiency particulate air filter, T/CRAA 439 Air filters for general ventilation (equivalent to ISO 16890)
[email protected] / +86 1 851 618 0935

LINKS

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision

Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission

We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

Camfil have just launched the Next Generation of the Hi-Flo filter which delivers very significant improvement in performance and sustainability. Originally launched in 1969, Hi-Flo is one of the world's most popular filters and one of Camfil’s biggest successes to date.

We hear direct from development team member Paula Nowojska and product manager Markus Koch about what those improvements mean for you, how they were developed and how they have been certified.

TOPICS WE COVER

• Why Camfil maintains R&D centres in Sweden, Malaysia and the USA
• How the R&D team began improving what was already a winning filter
• The dramatic difference modern materials can make to filters
• The exact results achieved and how they were measured
• Differences between laboratory and real world conditions
• The importance of sustainability and how Hi-Flo has improved massively
• Where you can measure the savings for your exact facility

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Paula Nowojska is a key member of the Camfil R&D team at Camfil HQ in Sweden. She is an ambitious engineer skilled in waterfall and agile project management and CAD including CFD simulations projects within air systems. She worked directly on the new next generation Hi-Flo filters.
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-nowojska-5147b6153

Markus Koch has almost a decade of experience with Camfil, first as a technical sales and project manager in Austria, then as product manager for Europe and the wider EMEA region. He knows the classic and next generation Hi-Flo filters ‘inside out’.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-koch-43095284/
 
 

LINKS

For more information on Hi-Flo, including calculators to see savings possible for your exact facility, go to https://www.camfil.com/hi-flo/

Our Chief Airgonomics Officer mini-series continues by looking at the importance of clean air through the three pillars of sustainability; economic, social and ecological. 

We find out how to best use these pillars to improve our lives, our business & our planet and how clean air is a crucial part of the mix.

Our guest Richard Blume is an expert in the area. He has been advising businesses worldwide for over 20 years on how to integrate sustainability principles into their strategy & operations, resulting in the more efficient operation of the company and helping the organisation be kinder to the planet.

TOPICS WE COVER

·         Why abundance is good

·         How science simplifies the complexity of sustainability

·         The flow of materials that we dig out of the ground

·         Chemicals and waste that we release from society

·         Ecosystems being destroyed by land clearing or over-extraction of resources

·         The five key elements of social sustainability

·         How ABCD can help you explain your mission as a CAO

·         The link between clean air and sustainability

·         How one person can make a difference

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Richard Blume is a senior sustainability strategist, consultant and business advisor. He is co-founder of the Sustainability Collaborative, an office of The Natural Step network that promotes a science-based framework for sustainability-driven innovation. 

With 20 years of experience supporting both small and medium-sized enterprises and multinationals to integrate sustainability principles into strategy and operations, Richard is a versatile trainer, strategist, project manager and analyst who likes to connect the dots between detail and the big picture. 

Richard holds a master’s degree in strategic leadership towards sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology and a combined bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering and international studies from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

LINKS

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Richard Blume Contacts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardblume/

https://thenaturalstep.org

https://sustainability-collaborative.earth

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision

Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission

We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

Our Chief Airgonomics Officer mini-series continues by looking at the role of a CAO in the real world. 

Two Camfil Airgonomic Officers, from Ireland and Germany, share how they are implementing the initiative in their own workplace. We hear the reaction of colleagues and the simple improvements they’ve been able to make. 

TOPICS WE COVER

·         Simple improvements made in the office

·         How to tell good air from bad air

·         How they measured the existing quality of air

·         Responses from employees and colleagues

·         Their biggest challenge over the next six months

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Paul Flanagan is Managing Director of Camfil Ireland. He has huge experience in the filtration industry, with many years of helping customers with technical queries especially in Life Science, Healthcare, Data Centres, Food & Beverage and Educational facilities.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-flanagan-4728ab27/

Lara Lumma is a Back Office Specialist in the Technics and Service Department in Germany. Lara has almost ten years’ experience with the Camfil organisation. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/llu23858rf/

LINKS

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision

Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right

Our Mission

We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda

Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

Camfil have launched a Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative to raise accountability for the air people breathe indoors. This brand-new initiative helps organisations to act by appointing CAOs and Airgonomics Officers to be 'The Voice of Clean Air' in the workplace. 

Camfil is leading by example and have 100 Airgonomics Officers in their own organisation and a CAO for the US, APAC and EMEA region and one CAO for Camfil globally. 

In this episode, we meet one of the world’s first Airgonomics Officers, Anders Sundvik who shares the importance of the role, how he has implemented it and the simple reasoning behind why clean indoor air is such a big responsibility. 

TOPICS WE COVER

• How airgonomics was inspired by customer curiosity
• Why we think indoors is safe and why it is not
• A dramatic example of how high CO2 levels have risen
• The role of Chief Airgonomics Officers and Airgonomics Officers
• Why it’s not just for scientists or air specialists
• How Anders has implemented the role and feedback from colleagues
• How you can get involved and the help you can expect

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Anders Sundvik is one of the key members of the product development team at Camfil HQ in Sweden. With over 20 years’ experience in engineering and design, there is very little Anders does not know about filters, particles, gases, or air pollution and how to tackle it. Recently, he has been appointed as one of the world's first ever Airgonomics Officers.
 
 

LINKS

Special CAO Website

https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/

Chief Airgonomics Officer Network :
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/

Anders on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-sundvik-b5948921/

Welcome to the first of our Chief Airgonomics Officer mini-series looking at the importance of clean air in the workplace and how a CAO can improve the situation. 

On this episode, we get the world view on clear air today, why it’s being adopted so fast and the financial & health benefits it brings.  We also discover which governments and world organisations are leading the way and why legislation is able to adapt so fast.

Keeping us up-to-date is Simon Birkett, a world-leading advisor on clean air working who has the latest from the World Health Organisation, the European Union and the UK parliament.

TOPICS WE COVER

• Why clean air is enjoying a new lease of life
• The shocking pre-Covid numbers driving the change
• Who sets the rules and how they are able to legislate so fast
• The importance of considering pollution with indoor air
• How the benefits of clean air reap rich rewards for business
• Why clean air as a human right could be enshrined in UK law

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Simon Birkett is an environmental campaigner. As founder and Director of Clean Air in London (CAL), he has campaigned since 2006 for full compliance with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for air quality throughout London and elsewhere.

Between 2015 and March 2019, Simon was the air pollution stakeholder on the High-Level and Intergovernmental Stakeholder and Advisory Group for UNEP's sixth Global Environment Outlook (GEO6). This was the United Nations’ most comprehensive report on the totality of the global environment since 2012. At a local level, Simon chairs the Knightsbridge Neighbourhood Forum which produced the first ‘made’ neighbourhood plan in central London in December 2018. Every one of the 40 policies in the Knightsbridge Neighbourhood Plan aligns to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Simon is currently advising Baroness Jenny Jones on her Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill which topped the ballot of Private Members Bills in the House of Lords earlier this year and is progressing through Parliament.  The Bill would enshrine the human right to clean air precisely and explicitly in UK law including indoor air.

Camfil has been the sole sponsor of CAL’s campaign to build public understanding of indoor air quality since it started in 2011.
 
 

LINKS

Website: https://cleanair.london
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-birkett-02613249/
WHO Guidelines: https://cleanair.london/hot-topics/new-who-air-quality-guidelines/
Covid Filtration Results: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8689842/
 

On this episode we’re finding out about the main types of air filter available, what they do and where they work best.  In twenty minutes you will have a great understanding of how they work and be better able to consider what would work best for your facility.

Walking us through it is Evelina Zettervall from Camfil HQ in Sweden. Before Camfil, Evelina worked as a bio-medical analyst and research scientist working with pathogens. Today, she is one of Camfil’s top experts in air filtration, HVAC and clean rooms. 

TOPICS WE COVER

• What each basic filter type does
• Where they work best in your system
• Filter efficiency and replacement cycles
• How filters are used in different industries

LINKS

Evelina on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelina-zettervall-5a615149/

After installing your industrial dust collector, it's important to know the proper steps to start up your collector in a safe and efficient manner.   
 
Topics we cover include

• Dust collector installation checklist
• Why a checklist is important
• A walkthrough of the startup checklist

GUESTS DETAILS
 
Jacob Stewart is the host of the podcast, as well as the video producer for Camfil APC Jonesboro’s Marketing department.  Taylor Morgan is our Regional Sales Manager at Camfil AP