CO₂ levels to some extent, are natural in all buildings — after all, we produce CO₂ with every breath we exhale. However, unnaturally high levels of CO₂ in a building can cause people to become sluggish, fatigued, and less productive due to mental fogginess. If there are abnormally high CO₂ levels in a building it usually means that your ventilation system is malfunctioning and is allowing unsafe levels of pollutants like volatile organic compounds. 

Humidity is the amount of water vapor present within the air of a given space. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air and when air at any given temperature has all the vapor it can hold—that is 100% humidity, which is uncomfortable at any temperature. Humidity in extremes of either direction can cause mild to severe problems, that is why it is so important for your space to keep it stable and balanced according to your needs.

Low Humidity Problems

When it is cold outside, your building’s HVAC system runs the furnace more often which can lower humidity levels to extremes of only 10 percent. To put that in perspective, the Mojave Desert maintains an average level of 25 percent humidity.

People are most comfortable on average when humidity levels are between 35 and 40 percent. Low humidity dries out skin, causes chapped lips, increases susceptibility to colds and respiratory bugs. It also increases static electricity, which in an office environment with high-end computers and electronics can be detrimental to your equipment. Even your building will suffer as hardwood floors will separate, wallpaper loosens and gaps in molding begin to appear. It can really wreck your maintenance budget.

High Humidity Problems
On the other end of the scale, when the temperature warms up in summer there might be too much humidity in the air. This can cause condensation, water stains on ceilings and wall vents, mold and mildew build up and a musty odor.

In addition, long periods of exposure to high humidity levels can cause rot and structural damage in your building and attract unwanted pests and rodents seeking water—which condensation provides. 

When it comes to your occupants, high humidity is most dangerous when combined with the hot Texas summers. The humidity level interferes with your body’s natural cooling mechanism which can lead to heat stroke and other issues—especially those with asthma and heart problems.

When we install CO₂ and humidity sensors in conjunction with a HVAC Control system, the building is ventilated with fresh air based on the number of occupants in the space at a given moment. When CO₂ levels increase with higher occupancy, more fresh air is allowed in by opening the dampers. Since CO₂ levels decrease as the occupancy lowers, the dampers close accordingly to reduce the amount of air that needs to be heated or cooled. 

The same goes for humidity levels as dampers can sense the levels and when humidity is low, open the dampers to allow moist air in. When humidity levels are high the dampers are closed and the air is dehumidified with the evaporator component of the HVAC system to bring it to appropriate levels.

How We Get The Best Results With CO₂  And Humidity Sensors And Demand Control Ventilation

• The energy savings possible are most effective in buildings that have irregular occupation levels within a 24-hour period. Building such as restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, and educational facilities tend to be the biggest benefactors of such a system integration. Also, regions such as Houston and the Gulf Coast with high humidity levels can greatly benefit from such a system, as limiting the amount of outdoor air reduces humidity which encourages mold and mildew growth. 
• In order to maximize control over your operational costs, CO₂  and humidity sensors should be integrated into your buildings automation system or zoning network via a digital direct controller. That will allow your facilities manager to check all devices from one central interface rather than having to monitor multiple interfaces. 
• We make sure CO₂ and humidity sensors are installed in a spot that is optimal for reading accurate room conditions. For example, If CO₂ sensors are placed inside air ducts, they will give inaccurate readings. This means we place the sensors where people can be closest to the sensors—usually anywhere between three and six feet off the floor.
• While we do offer standalone CO₂, and humidity sensors, an all-in-one device that measures both can be very beneficial and reduce installation time and wall clutter. 
• We make sure to properly calibrate sensors at installation as they can only reliably maintain their calibration if they are calibrated properly at initial installation. Inaccurate calibrations can wildly affect the effectiveness of your comfort systems. 

The quality of the air in your building significantly affects the health of it occupants and the quality of your products. Don’t take chances with something as impactful as air quality, contact us to see how we can help make sure your air quality is a benefit, not a liability.