Study 1
The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function
Economic, Environmental and Health Implications of Enhanced Ventilation in Office Buildings
Study 2
The Impact of Working in a Green Certified Building on Cognitive Function and Health
Study 3
The effects of ventilation and filtration on indoor PM2.5 in office buildings in four countries
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The COGfx Study
What if indoor air quality could improve decision making?
Our program investigates how buildings can be leveraged to improve human performance. We’ve embarked on a multi-year research endeavor aimed at examining links between indoor air quality and cognitive function, in a series of studies, we call “The COGfx Study”.
Study 1: In the Lab
In Study 1, the research team found cognitive function test scores doubled when participants were in simulated green building environments with enhanced ventilation as opposed to conventional building environments.
Cognitive function scores were significantly better under Green+ building conditions than in the Conventional building conditions for all nine functional domains.
The public health benefits of enhanced ventilation far exceed the per occupant economic costs in U.S. cities. The increased productivity of an employee is over 150x greater than the resulting energy costs.
Study 2: In the United States
In Study 2, the research team examined real-world building environments to determine if the green certification of high-performing buildings could result in higher cognitive function scores and health benefits for occupants.
Our findings show that in high-performing buildings additional benefits to health and productivity may be obtained through green certification.
Study 3: In the World
In Study 3, 100 office buildings from around the world took part in a unique research project to examine the effects of global indoor environments on employee productivity and health.
Office building operations can protect against exposure to air pollution indoors. The results suggest that filters, in particular, are an intervention that can reduce PM2.5 indoors.
This study investigated the effects of indoor PM2.5 and CO2 on the cognitive function of office workers around the world. We found significant associations of selective attention and processing speed with exposure to these pollutants.
We found substantial country differences in chemical exposures and continued exposures to phased-out chemicals and their substitutes in buildings. These findings warrant further research on the role of chemicals in office buildings on worker health.
Indoor Air Quality Impact
April 9, 2024 – Harvard Healthy Buildings
March 28, 2024– Healthy Buildings Blog
