I sit down with Bart Cremers , Group Knowledge Consultant at Zehnder Group International AG . Bart occupies a unique and fascinating space in our industry—he describes himself as a "scientist among engineers and an engineer among scientists." With deep experience in R&D, physics, and data analysis, combined with a practical role in a leading global manufacturing firm, Bart offers a rare perspective on how these two worlds can—and must—collaborate to improve indoor environments.

It is a significant milestone for the Air Quality Matters podcast. Two years, 1.5 million spoken words, and 100 episodes later, we return to where it all began. For this centenary episode, I sat down once again with my very first guest, the legendary Max Sherman .

For those in the built environment sector, Max needs little introduction. With a career spanning over 40 years at the Berkeley Lab , his fingerprints are on almost every major piece of air quality research and standardisation in recent history. But beyond the accolades, Max brings a candour and scientific rigour that cuts through industry noise.

In this episode of Air Quality Matters, I sat down with Esther Sternberg M.D. , a pioneer in the science of the mind-body interaction and the role of place in well-being. Formerly the research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and a renowned author, Esther bridges the gap between hard medical science and architectural design. Her insights challenge us to look past the mechanical engineering of a building and consider the biological engineering of the human beings inside it.

In a recent episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stijn Renneboog , Deputy Secretary General at Eurovent . With his unique vantage point at the intersection of European policy and the HVAC industry, Stijn provided an invaluable perspective on the complex dynamics shaping our sector today. Our conversation explored the subtle but profound shifts in legislation, the rising importance of occupant well-being, and the practical challenges that lie ahead.

In a world filled with technical standards, building codes, and best practice guidelines, it’s easy to get lost in the details of achieving healthy indoor air. But what if the most powerful tool we have isn’t another regulation, but a simple, unifying idea? What if we declared clean indoor air a fundamental human right?

This is the bold premise behind the recent landmark event at the United Nations General Assembly, which saw the launch of the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air. On a recent episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with the two driving forces behind this initiative: Georgia Lagoudas , a science policy expert and former White House advisor, and Dr Bronwyn King AO , a radiation oncologist and globally renowned anti-tobacco campaigner.

As we approach World Ventilate Day on November 8th, it’s the perfect moment to reflect not just on the mechanics of moving air, but on the very reason we do it: to protect and enhance human health and wellbeing. Ventilation is an omnipresent, yet often invisible, force in our built environment. It’s a field where engineering, human behaviour, and public health intersect in every building we occupy.

In a special episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the three founders of World Ventilate Day: Cath Noakes , Henry Burridge , and Nathan Wood . This wasn't just a conversation about an awareness day; it was a deep and insightful discussion into the core challenges, profound opportunities, and critical conversations we need to be having about the air we breathe indoors. This post offers a glimpse into that rich discussion, exploring the key themes we covered.

It is rare to get quality time with true pioneers of our industry. In this episode, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down in person with Chandra Sekhar , Professor at the National University of Singapore and an ASHRAE Fellow. With a career spanning over three decades, Chandra was one of the original architects of the indoor air quality research unit at NUS in the 90s.

Our conversation went far beyond standard engineering solutions. We explored a fundamental tension in our sector: we have the tools to create healthy buildings, yet we often fail to get these solutions to "land" with the general public.

The world of indoor air quality (IAQ) is at a fascinating and complex crossroads. Post-pandemic awareness is high, new technologies are emerging, and standards are evolving. Yet, a persistent gap remains between what we know is possible and what is actually being implemented in the vast majority of our buildings.

In this week's episode, I had the pleasure of a wide-ranging conversation with Bill Bahnfleth, an ASHRAE Fellow, past president, and Professor at Penn State University.

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.