Let's Talk Clean Air | Camfil

The Professor

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Episode notes

In this episode you will get clear, science-backed guidance on improving indoor air from a globally recognized leader in building science.

Professor Jeffrey Siegel shares straightforward strategies like controlling sources, optimizing ventilation and choosing effective filters. He shares how even small changes can meaningfully impact health, wellbeing and cognitive function. Jeffrey draws on his extensive expertise to help us understand the importance of indoor air quality and how to practically enhance it.

After listening, you’ll come away feeling empowered to take action to improving the air around you.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

● Why indoor air quality is as important as ever 
● The benefits of clean air quality on our health and wellbeing
● Creating a healthy microbiome indoors 
● Certifications and regulations for indoor air quality 
● Why all air filters are not created equally 

GUEST DETAILS
Dr Jeffrey Siegel, a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, specializes in creating healthy and sustainable buildings. With expertise in ventilation, indoor air quality, and control of particulate matter, he contributes to research on the indoor microbiome and moisture interactions. Dr. Siegel, a fellow of ASHRAE, teaches courses on indoor air quality and sustainable energy systems. His background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and he was an associate editor for the journal Building and Environment. Previously, he held a position as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.
https://civmin.utoronto.ca/home/about-us/directory/professors/jeffrey-siegel/

Jon Holmes, aka ‘the filter guy’ has worked with Camfil for over 10 years and in 2022 was promoted to National Accounts Manager in Canada. Jon has completed training in Theories of Filtration, HEPA Filtration Testing, ASHRAE Testing Standards and Advanced Filtration. He is also heavily involved with industry organizations like BOMA, CHES, and NAFA, and acts as Chair of several committees in the industry. 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonwholmes  

QUOTES

Indoor air quality has not really received the same kind of attention that other environmental issues have received, even with the pandemic. - Jeffrey Siegel

We have this very long list of health effects that come from breathing polluted indoor air, so everything from a variety of cardiovascular outcomes, respiratory outcomes, cancers, and then things that maybe aren't quite part of the conversation yet, but should be, like productivity, well being and cognitive function - Jeffrey Siegel

Even though we don't know everything, we know how to improve indoor air. And it's a very simple model that's been around much longer than I have. And that is, the first thing you do is you get rid of sources.  - Jeffrey Siegel

We have about 10 or so bacterial cells in our body for every human cell, we are essentially walking meatbags for microorganisms. We think about ourselves as individuals, but really, we're better described as a collection of microorganisms. And so for things like exposure, indoor exposures and so on, I have to think that those microorganisms are important, but I don't know that we fully understand why or how. - Jeffrey Siegel

One of the smartest things I've ever heard anyone say about indoor air, they said that the whole problem with indoor air from a regulatory standpoint is that no politician in the world is going to tell people that their buildings aren't sanctuaries, especially their homes, because that politician won't be reelected. So we're never going to get that type of regulation or that type of attention. - Jeffrey Siegel

ABOUT CAMFIL’S CAO INITIATIVE

The Chief Airgonomics Officer initiative is started by Camfil, a leading manufacturer in premium clean air solutions and an advocate for access to clean air.

The Chief Airgonomics initiative is being driven at a time of urgency: sensitivities over air have heightened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air pollutants are well known to damage the environment and the newly published WHO Air Quality Guidelines show us that air pollution is more damaging to human health than previously understood.

The initiative is a direct response to these realities while also bringing to life Camfil’s mission of protecting people, processes and the environment. It also puts into practice Camfil’s knowledge and expertise built over more than half a century and that it is eager to share with its peers and wider audiences to improve people’s lives.

Our Vision : Clean and healthy Indoor Air should be a Human right
Our Mission: We want all companies and organisations to put clean and healthy indoor air on the agenda
Camfil believes that real change can only happen through collaborative effort and wants your organisation to join the clean air movement and community. Start your clean indoor air journey today!

CAO Website: https://www.chiefairgonomicsofficer.com/ 
CAO Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12679402/ 

KEYWORDS
#airfilter #indoorairquality #microorganisms #mervcertifications #microbiome #airfiltration