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Healthy Buildings
In Canada, unhealthy indoor environments affect absenteeism and lack of productivity at work, thus causing losses to the economy estimated at billions of dollars. Research suggests that 1% of improved indoor environment can increase productivity by an average of 10%, let alone produce substantial cost savings in health care. The impact of indoor environment is more relevant in Canada, because of extreme climatic conditions combined with the fact that Canadians spend about 90% of their time indoors. The Canadian industry lacks the knowledge and information on causes and an understanding of the indoor environment as it affects the health and well being of occupants. IRC will engage key federal organizations and collaborate with them in the development of a major initiative on the effect of indoor environment on the health of occupants. It will take advantage of the various programs and expertise offered by IRC, such as codes, product evaluation and research, and the skills and knowledge of other organizations, such as Health Canada and CIHR-funded academic researchers, to ensure a comprehensive initiative focused on evidence-based results and innovative resolutions to this issue.
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