Advocating for Healthier Indoor Air in Europe

World Ventil8 Day is a call to action to prioritize indoor air quality in new and renovated buildings as a fundamental right for occupants and an integral part of sustainable practices. Join the European Ventilation Industry Association (EVIA) on November 8th to highlight the essential role of mechanical ventilation in advancing the health, comfort, and energy efficiency of indoor environments across Europe.

Celebrate World Ventil8 Day with EVIA to make a concerted effort towards healthier indoor environments. Through collective action, let’s enhance our quality of life, safeguard vulnerable populations, and advance Europe’s energy efficiency objectives.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters

Europeans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where air can be up to eight times more polluted than outside. This stark reality presents significant health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, mental health disorders, and premature deaths. The World Health Organization attributes around 150,000 premature deaths in Europe annually to poor IAQ. Mechanical ventilation systems are key to tackle this situation by ensuring efficient air renewal and pollutant removal in a controlled way.

Opening a Window is not a Solution

Sufficient but at the same time controlled air renewal cannot rely on opening windows. While this might provide temporary relief, mechanical ventilation systems offer a sustainable solution, ensuring continuous air renewal with minimal energy loss. These systems help control humidity levels, reduce energy bills by 15-26%, depending on the type of building and context, and are crucial in maintaining both the health of building occupants and the structural integrity of the buildings themselves.

Modern systems, like heat recovery and demand-controlled ventilation, offer intelligent solutions to optimize both IAQ and energy consumption, ensuring healthier, more comfortable living and working spaces.

Taking Action: Policy and Practice

The recent updates to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) set the groundwork for improved IAQ regulations. However, further action is needed. We call for:

  1. Mandatory Ventilation Rates: All member states should include in their building regulation compulsory ventilation rates for all types buildings and ensure their effective enforcement.
  2. IAQ and Ventilation Data Integration: Incorporating ventilation and IAQ data within the Building Stock Observatory for better building assessments and knowledge.
  3. Ecodesign Enhancements: Updating requirements to prioritize energy-efficient ventilation systems and make them eligible to financial support in the frame of the taxonomy regulation.
  4. Public Procurement Standards: Embedding IAQ criteria in public contracts to encourage healthier building practices.

Get Involved

World Ventil8 Day is our chance to champion the cause of cleaner indoor air. Whether you’re a policy-maker, architect, homeowner, or one of the many professionals within the HVAC community, your involvement is key to our collective success.

  1. Watch & Share: Explore our curated library of resources and videos featuring experts discussing the importance of IAQ and mechanical ventilation.
  2. Act & Advocate: Learn about the specific measures governments and individuals can take to improve ventilation standards.
  3. Connect & Collaborate: Reach out to networks and professional bodies dedicated to advancing ventilation technologies and solutions across Europe.

Building a Healthier Future

Celebrate World Ventil8 Day with EVIA to make a concerted effort towards healthier indoor environments. Through collective action, let’s enhance our quality of life, safeguard vulnerable populations, and advance Europe’s energy efficiency objectives.

Together, let’s breathe life into the future of European buildings!

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