Just four weeks removed from the ASHRAE Summer Conference in Phoenix, I’m still processing the challenge presented to all of us working in the built environment.
ASHRAE President Dennis McQuade didn’t just celebrate past wins—he issued a forward-looking call:
“We need to become healthy indoor environmentalists.”
It’s a subtle shift—but a profound one.
For years, the industry has focused outward: slashing energy use, eliminating harmful refrigerants, and decarbonizing building systems. That work has mattered. It still does. But now, we're being challenged to look inward—toward the health of the air we actually breathe.
Because the truth is, most buildings still operate on guesswork.
They over-ventilate “just in case.” They rely on static schedules, assumptions about occupancy, and outdated rules of thumb. And when something does go wrong, systems often can’t confirm when the issue is truly resolved.
That means wasted energy. Strained infrastructure. And ironically, less certainty about actual safety.
The solution isn’t more equipment. It’s smarter sensing.
Centralized, continuous air monitoring gives building teams real-time insight into indoor air quality—and the ability to act on it with precision. It means being able to prove a room has returned to baseline. To adjust ventilation based on actual need. To make safety measurable, not speculative.
It also changes who’s in control.
The best systems don’t just automate airflow—they empower teams. No service lock-ins. No gatekeeping. Just flexible, self-managed tools that make it easier to uphold safety protocols and hit sustainability targets without compromise.
McQuade’s call isn’t just aspirational. It’s technical.
He’s asking us to evolve—not just toward greener buildings, but toward smarter, safer, and more transparent indoor environments.
Continuous monitoring is how we get there.
