In our ongoing mission to improve the quality of air in our built environment, we constantly explore the tools and knowledge at our disposal. From established ventilation principles to cutting-edge technologies, the conversation is key to our collective success. Two recent episodes of our podcasts delve into distinct but crucial areas of indoor environmental quality, highlighting both a promising technology and a complex public health debate.

At the heart of our discussion was a powerful and memorable concept Tanya introduced: the ‘inhalable diet.’ It’s a simple yet profound reframing of air quality that shifts it from an abstract environmental issue to a deeply personal and daily act of consumption.

In a special series recorded at the Healthy Buildings 2025 conference in Hyderabad, India, the Air Quality Matters podcast did just that. This episode offers a fascinating window into the region's burgeoning air quality sector, featuring conversations with both the next generation of scientists and seasoned industry professionals. The discussions reveal familiar challenges viewed through a fresh lens, highlighting innovative solutions and critical gaps that resonate globally.

Ten years can be a lifetime in the world of technology and research. Standards evolve, new evidence emerges, and our understanding of complex issues deepens. So, what happens when we look back at a foundational document from nearly a decade ago? Do we find outdated ideas, or do we discover insights that are only now coming into their own?

In a special two-part episode recorded live from the conference, we sat down with two distinct but interconnected groups: the next generation of researchers pioneering new fields, and the industry leaders on the ground implementing solutions today. The result is a fascinating window into the current state and future direction of building science and air quality, highlighting challenges that feel universal, yet perspectives that offer a fresh, vital view.

The issue of damp and mould in social housing has moved from a hidden problem to a national headline, tragically underscored by the death of Awaab Ishak. It has forced a reckoning within the housing sector, prompting difficult questions about responsibility, building standards, and the fundamental relationship between landlords and residents.

We have regulations, significant investment, and advanced technology dedicated to monitoring and improving the air quality in our cities. Yet, for many urban areas, tangible progress feels frustratingly slow. Why, despite all this effort, are we seemingly stuck? Is there a fundamental flaw in our approach to understanding the air we breathe at street level?

Air pollution is often discussed as an environmental issue, a problem of smokestacks and exhaust pipes that primarily affects our lungs. But what if that’s only the beginning of the story? What if the air we breathe is delivering a toxic payload to every organ in our bodies, silently accelerating the aging process and contributing to hundreds of different diseases?

The world of indoor air quality monitoring is evolving at a breakneck pace. What was once the domain of specialists with expensive, cumbersome equipment is now a dynamic landscape of enterprise-level technology, data analytics, and a growing focus on human health and productivity.

In the built environment sector, we often find ourselves at the intersection of several profound challenges: a housing delivery crisis, a deepening public health crisis and an urgent drive for decarbonisation. How we navigate this nexus will define the health and well-being of communities for decades to come.

Retrofitting the UK's housing stock isn't just an energy efficiency challenge; it's a public health imperative. For decades, a frustrating boom-bust cycle has undermined progress, leading not only to financial instability in the supply chain but to poor outcomes for residents, including homes with inadequate ventilation and unhealthy indoor air.

The Indian subcontinent is a place of immense dynamism, rapid development, and unique environmental challenges. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, the quality of its built environment is not just an architectural or engineering concern; it's a critical public health issue.

Eighteen months ago, I welcomed Nathan Wood to the third-ever episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast. A fellow campaigner for better outcomes in the built environment, Nathan—Managing Director of FARMWOOD M&E SERVICES LTD. and chair for both the EIA Air Quality Working Group and BESA London & South East—shared his on-the-ground perspective of a ventilation industry struggling with quality and competence.

On the Air Quality Matters podcast, we often discuss the links between the buildings we inhabit and our health. One of the most frequent and concerning outcomes we touch upon is asthma, particularly in children. But in focusing on the broad statistics and environmental causes, it’s easy to lose sight of the visceral reality of what it means for a child to struggle for breath, and for a family to face that crisis.

e in the built environment sector have long understood that healthier buildings are better buildings. We know intuitively—and increasingly, scientifically—that clean air, good lighting, and thermal comfort lead to better outcomes for the people inside.

The air in our schools is more than just atmosphere; it’s a critical component of the learning environment, directly impacting our children's health, concentration, and long-term well-being. But how much do we truly know about the quality of that air?

We often discuss indoor air quality (IAQ) in terms of specific pollutants and acceptable thresholds. We measure particulates, track CO₂, and set limits for VOCs. But what if this narrow focus, while essential, is causing us to miss the bigger picture?

In the complex world of the built environment, we often rely on design specifications, building codes, and standards to assure us that our buildings are safe and healthy. But how often do we get to see the real-world, dynamic performance of these spaces?

In the world of the built environment, a significant gap often exists between our aspirations for healthy, high-performing buildings and the day-to-day realities of delivering them. We can discuss the science, the standards, and the compelling return on investment, but what happens at the coalface?

The concept of a "healthy building" has profoundly shifted in the public and professional consciousness, moving from a niche concern to a mainstream priority. Few have been more central to this evolution than Professor Joseph Allen of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, co-author of the seminal book, Healthy Buildings.