The pandemic has certainly brought greater attention to indoor air quality (IAQ). A recent survey by Carbon Lighthouse has proven that one group of the work force—Millennials—are demanding greater transparency and data when it comes to IAQ. You should care because Millennials are expected to account for 75 percent of the workforce by 2025.
Carbon Lighthouse’s survey included 1,000 U.S. consumers. Due to the overweighted economic influence of the millennial demographic as both employees and consumers, Carbon Lighthouse chose to focus its analysis on the 332 millennial respondents who took the survey.
Here are some of the key findings of the survey:
- 82 percent of millennials would feel safer returning to offices with real-time IAQ information available via their phone or computer.
- 78 percent confirmed they would feel safer returning to hotels with real-time IAQ information.
- 73 percent of millennials would consider IAQ when booking a stay or attending a social gathering.
- 65 percent already use apps, devices, or air purifiers to monitor or improve the air quality at home.
- Real-time IAQ information would make 68 percent of millennials feel safest when returning to work compared to annual certifications (27 percent) and one-time health and wellness audits (5 percent).
Does a guest walking into your hotel quickly have access to the IAQ of your property?
Carbon Lighthouse has a stake in this space of providing instant IAQ data with its VAIRIFY app. According to Brendan Millstein, Co-founder & President of Carbon Lighthouse, the app displays data ranging from particulate matter to CO2 to how much outside air is being brought in. Temperature and humidity are also among the data items tracked. Carbon Lighthouse provides sensors so that a hotel can track and then provide data to building occupants using VAIRIFY. “The building management system responds to the sensors directly,” Millstein says.
Supplements Steps Already Taken
No, VAIRIFY cannot tell you whether COVID-19 is present, but it can help provide the conditions that make COVID-19 more difficult to spread. Millstein says building owners have probably already taken the steps needed to keep COVID-19 at bay—MERV 13 or higher filters, for example.
Millstein adds that VAIRIFY can also minimize the energy and carbon impact of a building. Perhaps your building is bringing in too much outside air?
Carbon Lighthouse is not a client of mine. I am simply giving you an example of how the expectations of your guests are changing. It is no secret that hotels have been having a challenge bringing employees back to work. “IAQ transparency will help give employees peace of mind, while giving employers an increased ability to attract and retain top talent,” Carbon Lighthouse says.
Post-COVID-19, in many ways, savvy, tech-smart guests will never look at your hotel the same way again.
To access the Carbon Lighthouse survey, click here.
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