INNOVATIVE PROJECT AIMS TO DRIVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Torus, through its charitable arm, Torus Foundation, has been delivering a project to help raise awareness and increase understanding of indoor air quality, while sharing key messages to support Torus customers of ways to ‘clean’ the air in their home.

The aim of the Indoor Air Quality Project, funded by the Beyond Children and Young Person’s Transformation Programme hosted by Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, and Torus, was to help raise awareness and increase understanding of indoor air quality, while sharing key messages to support Torus customers of ways to ‘clean’ their air in the home.

Indoor air quality refers to the cleanliness of air that we breathe inside (at home, work, school etc). It is known to affect our comfort, wellbeing, and health (particularly respiratory health). Children are spending more of their time indoors than ever, and poor indoor air quality can be a significant source of potential ill health. Associated health effects in children include breathing problems, chest infections, low birth weight, pre-term birth, wheeze, allergies, eczema, skin problems, hyperactivity, inattention, difficulty sleeping, sore eyes and not doing well at school.

As part of the project two hundred air quality monitors from AirThings, have been installed into Torus homes across Liverpool and other areas, where young children also lived in the property.

Kate Shone, Managing Director for Torus Foundation, said: “Health and Wellbeing being one of Torus Foundation’s key areas of support. This project is providing us with the information we need to keep our customers informed and educated about how to optimise the air quality within their homes. This project is another great example of positive changes we can make for our communities through collaborative working.”

Throughout the project, Torus Foundation has provided ongoing support and feedback to the customers involved, that has not only helped towards raising awareness and knowledge around indoor air quality and to empower them to understand ways in which they can make changes for the health of their family, but identify where additional help may be needed to improve readings benefitting the customers’ living conditions in the property.

The anonymised data collected has also been shared with academics who are producing a study based on the results to help improve indoor air quality throughout the social housing sector.