Why Offices In India Are Unable To Maintain Healthy Indoor Environment

The recently conducted study assessed the indoor environment in Indian workspaces and the impact it has on building occupants. It revealed that there is considerable room for improvement in Indian offices when it comes to maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Reinforcing its commitment towards enabling sustainable buildings and workspaces across the country, GBCI India, an authority on sustainability in building design, construction and operations, released a joint research study, “Healthy Workplaces for Healthier People,” in collaboration with Saint-Gobain Research India. The study assesses the indoor environment in Indian workspaces and the impact it has on building occupants, and highlights the correlation between indoor spaces and occupants’ health and well-being. The study revealed there is considerable room for improvement in Indian offices when it comes to maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Spanning a pre-pandemic timeframe, the study involved evaluation of 30 offices located in nine Indian cities covering three major climatic zones and included a mix of green-certified and non-certified spaces owned by private and government agencies. Collectively, these offices had an occupancy of about 30,000 people –1,500 of whom also participated in an online survey as part of the study. Building data collected from project teams and professionals who work at the buildings along with onsite measurements and inspection; and occupant feedback collected through online surveys were all analyzed to determine whether the buildings were delivering healthy and comfortable spaces.