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.

The drive towards healthy, net-zero housing is often framed as an engineering and materials science challenge. But what if the most crucial elements lie not just in U-values and ventilation rates, but in understanding human health, behaviour, and our interaction with the spaces we inhabit?

The air we breathe is a dynamic, complex soup of chemistry, with unseen reactions constantly shaping its composition and impacting everything from our health to the global climate. But what drives these transformations? In a fascinating recent episode of Air Quality Matters, I had a conversation with John Wenger , a leading expert in Physical Chemistry from University College Cork

We often delve into the latest findings and innovative solutions in the built environment and air quality sectors.

But what about the individuals behind this crucial work? What motivates them, what challenges do they face, and what does the journey of a researcher truly entail?

The persistent issues of ventilation, damp, and mould in housing are complex challenges that touch us all, demanding innovative thinking and practical solutions. But where do these solutions come from? Often, they emerge not just from established experts but from curious, dedicated individuals willing to dive deep, question assumptions, and share their journey openly.

Remember the intense debates early in the COVID-19 pandemic about how the virus spread? For many of us in the built environment and air quality sectors, the arguments over droplets versus aerosols felt both urgent and, at times, surprisingly contentious. Why was something seemingly so fundamental – how a respiratory virus travels through the air – the subject of such fierce disagreement, even "literal screaming matches" as our latest podcast guest describes?

Energy efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ) in our homes – they're critical topics we often discuss on Air Quality Matters. But how are the world's leading experts actually tackling the challenge of managing them together effectively on a global scale? What happens behind the scenes when dozens of researchers from over 20 countries collaborate for five years on a single, focused mission?

We've become adept at making our buildings more airtight for energy efficiency – a laudable goal. But as Barry highlighted, this airtightness creates a paradox. Homes are becoming less leaky, reducing natural air exchange, yet ventilation practices haven't kept pace. The result? Airtightness often gets blamed for issues like mould and poor indoor air quality (IAQ), when the real culprit is inadequate or improperly functioning ventilation.

We talk a lot about indoor air quality on this podcast—what it is, why it matters, and what to do about it.

But what if instead of buying bits of kit and hoping for the best, we could just buy a guaranteed outcome? That’s exactly what Aayush Jha and his company Clairco are doing. They’re delivering “Clean Air as a Service,” and that shift in mindset—from product to performance—is one the whole built environment can learn from.

We often think of firefighters as the ultimate risk-takers—charging into burning buildings while the rest of us run the other way. But what if I told you that some of the most dangerous risks they face aren’t in the fires themselves? In this conversation with Stephen Robbie Burns , Watch Manager and Operational Assets Contaminants Lead at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, and Ian Ray , a Health and Safety Advisor and retired Borough Commander at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, we explored the unseen risks firefighters face from air quality hazards.

Effective communication is the missing link. Whether it’s ventilation, air quality, or construction standards, how we communicate technical subjects can determine whether innovations succeed or fade into obscurity.

When we talk about improving air quality in buildings, we often focus on technology, materials, and standards. But one of the biggest challenges in both retrofit and ventilation is the skills gap—finding the right people with the right knowledge to do the job properly.

Welcome back to Air Quality Matters. This week, it's just me, and I wanted to take some time to discuss a few key topics that have been making waves in indoor air quality. From an exciting new conference in India to a new venture with Air Quality Matters consultancy, and finally, to the ever-relevant issue of damp and mould, there’s much to cover.

Mould is an ever-present challenge in buildings, especially in social housing, yet the way we talk about it is often overly simplistic. It’s either there or it isn’t, and the goal is always to eradicate it. But the reality is much more nuanced.

The discussion quickly expanded beyond solely focusing on air quality. Paweł Wargocki emphasised the need for a holistic approach, considering thermal comfort, acoustics, and lighting alongside air quality. He highlighted that while we've long understood the effects of indoor environments on adults, we're now gaining clarity on the specific needs of children.

Plum's journey to founding the Safer Air Project is deeply personal and professionally informed. With a background in health policy and public affairs, specialising in cancer and social inclusion in terminal illness policy, Plum has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by those with chronic health conditions.