Johnson Controls and Emirates Green Building Council reveal key findings from air quality study across UAE educational institutes

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 10, 2024 – Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, and Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), a council dedicated to advancing green buildings for environmental protection and sustainability in the UAE, have today shared key insights from a comprehensive study to analyze Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) across educational institutes in the country. The study aims to raise awareness of the main air pollutants and their sources, and promote guidelines to ensure healthier spaces for students.

"As societies and governments increasingly recognize the pressing need to address and enhance the health and well-being of individuals within buildings and enclosed spaces, the significance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has reached unprecedented heights. At Johnson Controls, we are dedicated to creating indoor environments that are not only healthier, safer, and more comfortable, but also more energy-efficient. We are immensely proud to collaborate on this impactful initiative aimed at improving children's learning spaces in UAE." said Mohammad Khalid, Vice President & General Manager, MEA. ”Measurement and data are the foundation of every effective clean air strategy and strive to ensure that organizations can map their journey toward a healthier and more sustainable future." added Rohan Chopra, Sales Director Sustainable Infrastructure, EMEALA.  

“The Emirates Green Building Council, through the Emirates Coalition for Green Schools, is dedicated to elevating the environmental standards of schools in the UAE. Our visionary goal is to transform every school into a green haven, ensuring that every child in the UAE receives education in a sustainable environment within this generation”, said Khaled Bushnaq, Chairman, of EmiratesGBC. A particular focus lies on indoor air quality, an aspect crucial to student health, well-being, and academic performance. The council has conducted comprehensive studies on indoor air quality, recognizing its direct correlation with the holistic development of students. 

According to recent findings from the survey initiated by EmiratesGBC, air quality emerged as the primary area of concern among parents and communities across the Emirates. As a result, Johnson Controls and EmiratesGBC teamed up to conduct the study using Johnson Controls’ IAQ audit service. Six IAQ devices were installed in each class in selected institutes to measure temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM2.5) for a set period of time.

Some of the key findings from the initial analysis reveals that:

• Due to higher outdoor PM levels, as anticipated, PM levels were consistently high in 60% of the institutes where PM 2.5 levels (typically associated with fuel burning, combustion processes and vehicle emissions) were greater than 12 µg/m3 for more than 50% of the time. 
• 25% of the institutes are operating at less than 25% of the industry recommended outside air ventilation rates, signaling increased CO2 levels and the need to increase fresh air intake.
• A positive sign for institutes’ growing focus on IAQ, it was observed that newer schools perform better in terms of PM and CO2 levels. 
• All institutes exhibited low to normal VOC concentration, 90% showed relative humidity within comfort levels, while 82% showed temperature within comfort levels.

Johnson Controls and EmiratesGBC are outlining a number of recommendations to implement building technology that aids educational institutions in improving air quality including identifying means to add outside air ventilation to classrooms, upgrading the level of filtration using higher efficiency filters, test and balance to ensure proper ventilation rates, and more. EGBC will be launching a study summary during the EGBC congress taking place this month. Committed to the cause, Johnson Controls offers the capabilities to implement these IAQ improvement solutions, based on different commercial models to meet the educational institutions’ needs.

For more detailed information on the study findings, please visit: https://emiratesgbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IAQ-Concise-Report-EGBC-JCI.pdf

-ENDS- 

About Johnson Controls: 

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.  

Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.  

Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. 

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.ae for more information and follow @Johnson Controls Middle East and Africa on LinkedIn.

About EmiratesGBC: 

EmiratesGBC is a non-government organisation that promotes and educates on sustainability in the built environment and is the official Green Building Council for the UAE endorsed by the World Green Building Council. Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) was formed in 2006, with the goal of advancing green building principles for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainability in the United Arab Emirates. 

Since its inception in 2006, there have been significant changes in the attitudes and demands related to the sustainable built environment. The Council has been encouraged by the implementation of green building policies and regulations, by the adoption of consistent rating systems, and by the increase in the overall knowledge sharing and information available on built environments and communities. For more information: visit www.emiratesgbc.org or follow us on Emirates Green Building Council on LinkedIn.