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Every facility manager faces three critical challenges. The first challenge is
better IAQ. Bad air due to pollen, pollution, and other
contaminants can no longer be ignored. Health and productivity
issues are “front and center,” thanks to studies such as the one
published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2-07) and
summarized in The Wall Street Journal (2-1-07) which conclusively
links heart risk to air pollutants. And because the frequency of
litigation over poor IAQ and “sick buildings” is rising, insurance
carriers are now involved, too.
Challenge #2 is the push for greener buildings. Green is good,
but often the more efficient the air filter, the higher the energy
costs, due to higher air resistance. Energy conservation is a
major part of “green,” and companies can find themselves
improving on one front while losing ground on another.
“Tight” buildings, popular in the 70s, have also aggravated
the quest for clean air. Outside ventilation is reduced in these
facilities, and a common “fix” has been more frequent
air exchanges.
Challenge #3 is operations costs. The pressure to reduce the
cost of consumables such as filters - also utilities and labor –
limits options for many facility managers and building engineers. | 
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