Posts by Geoff Barber
Scientists find water microdroplets can transform into hydrogen peroxide when condensing on cold surfaces
by Adam Hadhazy, Stanford University In its bulk liquid form, whether in a bathtub or an ocean, water is a relatively benign substance with little chemical activity. But down at the scale of tiny droplets, water can turn surprisingly reactive, Stanford researchers have discovered. In microdroplets of water, just millionths of a meter wide, a portion…
Read MoreThe Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Infectious Diseases
Scott Zimmerman* Silas Inc Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA Abstract Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in spring/summer air and water reach germicidal levels. It is proposed that variations in naturally occurring ROS are the primary cause of influenza seasonality. Recent NIH and DHS COVID-19 aerosol and droplet log kill measurements do not account for this natural…
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What are the optimal air quality levels for health, productivity and energy-saving?
Airthings A complete, easy guide to ideal air quality levels within buildings. Indoor air quality has an enormous effect on people’s well-being and productivity. For example, did you know that a healthier work environment can reduce sick leave by 58%?1 On top of that, buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions.2 In this…
Read MoreHere are the top four strategies to reduce COVID risk in buildings
A short new report from the Lancet COVID-19 Commission lists the first four strategies that every building owner and operator should pursue to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The report focuses on lowering the amount of virus-laden aerosols in indoor air by improving ventilation and filtration. The report was put together by the Commission’s task force on safe work, safe…
Read MorePreventing Airborne Spread of Covid-19 and Other Respiratory Diseases
Why it took so long to acknowledge that Covid-19 is airborne—and what we need to do now. By Michael Eisenstein On the top floor of the Baltimore Veterans Administration Hospital, Richard Riley and his colleague William Wells were hard at work installing rows of guinea pig cages. The year was 1954, and the two researchers—both…
Read MoreCOVID-19 funding pries open a door to improving air quality in schools
BY LIZ SZABO – KAISER HEALTH NEWS Many schools in California and nationwide were in dire need of upgrades — burdened by leaking pipes, mold, and antiquated heating systems — long before the pandemic drew attention to the importance of indoor ventilation in reducing the spread of infectious disease. The average U.S. school building is 50…
Read MoreWe Need to Improve Indoor Air Quality: Here’s How and Why
Upgrading buildings’ ventilation, filtration and other factors would not only decrease COVID transmission but also improve health and cognitive performance in general By Tanya Lewis – Scientific American We spend 90 percent of our lives indoors, yet most of us seldom spare a thought for the quality of the air we breathe there. More than a…
Read MoreEnergy series: How can we make existing buildings more energy-efficient?
Marie Bannister The final instalment in our 3 part series aims to answer the pivotal question: How can we make existing buildings more energy-efficient? The answer? Retrofitting. There are two main ways you can retrofit your building and make it more energy-efficient: building adjustments and smarter energy usage. Building adjustments If you own a building or facility, building…
Read MoreEnergy Series: Why don’t we just build new energy-efficient buildings?
Marie Bannister – Airthings We’ve ascertained that the lack of data into existing buildings results in many being unaware of just how energy deficient their buildings are. Next up in our 3 part series asks the question: Why then, can we not simply build new energy-efficient buildings?Energy-efficient buildings, also known as ‘green buildings’, do have a massive…
Read MoreEnergy Series: What’s the problem with buildings and energy efficiency?
By Marie Bannister – Airthings Welcome to the first installment of this 3 part series covering the key questions around energy savings. If you’re looking to save the planet and save energy costs, a new approach is needed. There are many costs to operating a business. Energy is a significant one, accounting for up to 32% of…
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