Air pollution has long been one of the world's most silent and deadly threats, with the World Health Organization stating that nine out of every ten people now breathe polluted air, air pollution leads to 7 million deaths each year. This problem is even more threatening now due to Covid-19 and people are understandably worried and uncertain of what their councils are doing to improve the issue, something that is particularly relevant to the borough of Lambeth.
The borough has been known as one of the worst when it comes to reducing air pollution for a long time now. Back in September 2013 a yearly report showed that Lambeth was dramatically exceeding air pollution standards in regards to Particulate Matter (PM10) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). The situation only got worse as Lambeth was in the bottom three boroughs for PM10 and NO2 pollution in 2017, leading to the borough being the first in London to declare a climate emergency in January of 2019. There has since been some improvement but making sure that the air is clean is of paramount importance – specifically for businesses who are trying to retain their customers in such difficult times.
Given the significant amount of pollution in Lambeth, businesses with indoor spaces will have to do everything they can to ensure a safe atmosphere for their customers. One such idea they could implement is upgrading ventilation and using data analytics to better understand the composition of their air. Good ventilation systems are able to bring in "fresh" outdoor air. They also remove the "contaminated" indoor air. This would clearly be beneficial to businesses in Lambeth due to the air that infiltrates indoor spaces being so polluted and would be especially useful for restaurants as hygiene is critical to their success.
When thinking about air pollution, cars, buses and planes are all obvious examples; however, restaurants are also a big cause of pollution in London. It is estimated that commercial cooking accounts for 13% of particle pollution in the capital, a rate that is destined to increase as London becomes more populated. It is crucial that these rates are lowered to help keep customers safe and there are some simple ways this can be done. Making sure that employees regularly change the air filters, clean the floors and surfaces will help to stop dust and other debris from entering your ventilation systems. Using cleaning products that are free of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) is beneficial as these significantly reduce indoor air pollution. In addition to this, monitoring your air quality is pivotal as you will be able to take actions on improving it.
One way this can be done is by using BlockDox. We provide immediate information on your air quality, such as Carbon Dioxide rate, VOC rate, Relative Humidity and more. Using a system like our Dashboard will help bolster your defence against pollution and streamline your business as a whole.
Whether you decide to invest in upgraded ventilation systems or start analysing your air quality, any steps that are taken towards lowering air pollution are steps in the right direction; and each of them will have a noticeable impact on the fight against pollution.
Contact us at: sales@blockdox.com
