Indoor air quality and winter wellbeing issue inside our homes

As the colder months close in and we seal up our homes against the chill, our indoor environments can quietly turn against us. Poor ventilation, lack of daylight and trapped pollutants can combine to create what experts call Sick Building Syndrome — leaving many of us feeling tired, headachy and sluggish without realising why.

Three in five Brits recognise the benefits of fresh air, yet 51% of renters and half of homeowners spend most of winter with their windows shut, trapping moisture and pollutants that can increase condensation, mould and poor air quality. With only 16% of homeowners considering airflow when upgrading their homes, it’s become a silent winter issue for millions. According to the VELUX Healthy Buildings Barometer, one in four Europeans live with unhealthy indoor air. Prolonged exposure to pollutants such as fine particles, radon, damp and mould contributes to serious respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses across Europe.

Ros spoke to Prof Tim Sharpe, Department of Architecture at Strathclyde University and Neil Freshwater, public affairs manager at VELUX.