How to earn points in green building certifications with indoor air quality

Earn points more easily by monitoring the IAQ

Obtaining sustainable building certification such as LEED, BREEAM or WELL has become a priority for developers and companies seeking to differentiate their real estate assets. These labels not only attest to a building's commitment to the environment, but also increase its value, improve occupant satisfaction and strengthen brand image. Within the complex scoring system of these certifications, credits related to indoor air quality (IAQ) have gained increasing importance, becoming a strategic means of achieving the highest levels of certification.

LEED, BREEAM and WELL all include entire sections dedicated to indoor environmental quality in their manuals. These sections award points for the implementation of strategies ranging from the selection of building materials with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions to the installation of advanced ventilation systems and, crucially, the continuous monitoring of air pollutants.

The installation of a network of sensors that measure parameters such as PM2.5, CO2 and VOCs in real time not only allows for compliance with the prerequisites, but also opens the door to obtaining additional points in the categories of innovation and performance optimisation.

In this way, investing in air quality monitoring technology becomes a strategic decision with a measurable return. Not only does it directly improve the health and productivity of the people who inhabit the building, but it also accumulates valuable points that can be the key to moving from Silver to Gold or even Platinum certification. Air quality thus ceases to be an intangible asset and becomes a key piece in the sustainability puzzle, a ‘bargaining chip’ that allows buildings to achieve excellence and reliably demonstrate their commitment to human and planetary well-being.