The Hidden Cost of Poor Airflow in High-Performance Commercial Buildings

Poor airflow in commercial buildings leads to higher energy bills, reduced indoor air quality, and HVAC wear. Learn how to identify and solv

Ava Montini

Mar 24, 2025

Written by

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Why airflow inefficiencies drive up costs, compromise indoor air quality, and create hidden challenges for facility managers

Most commercial and institutional buildings today are designed with performance and efficiency in mind. Energy benchmarks, ESG goals, and occupant well-being are often front and center. But despite those efforts, one critical element of building performance is consistently underdiagnosed: airflow.

Poor airflow can silently affect every corner of your building’s operations — from higher energy consumption and HVAC maintenance costs to reduced indoor air quality (IAQ) and missed sustainability opportunities. It rarely shows up as a red flag on day one, but over time, it chips away at performance in ways that are both measurable and avoidable.

Inefficient Airflow Increases Energy Use — Even in “Efficient” Buildings

In many commercial buildings, HVAC systems account for roughly 30–40% of total energy consumption, according to Natural Resources Canada and ASHRAE. But when airflow is restricted, that percentage can climb significantly.

The most common culprits are high-resistance filters, dirty or aging ductwork, unbalanced systems, or outdated fans. These conditions increase static pressure, which forces HVAC fans to work harder and longer to achieve required airflow levels.

According to a study by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), buildings with airflow-related HVAC issues can see energy use increase by up to 30% compared to optimized systems. [1]

Even minor issues can have an outsized impact. A 100,000 sq. ft. office building experiencing elevated fan energy use due to clogged filters or inefficient duct design could face annual utility costs tens of thousands of dollars higher than necessary. For building owners managing multiple sites, that inefficiency compounds quickly.

Airflow and Indoor Air Quality Are Closely Linked

Buildings are dynamic systems, and air quality tends to suffer when airflow is compromised. Insufficient airflow can lead to poor ventilation, uneven air distribution, and pockets of stagnation in rooms or zones. These areas often experience elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter — especially in high-occupancy spaces.

A 2015 study from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that employees working in well-ventilated buildings performed 61% better on cognitive tasks than those in typical buildings with poor ventilation and air quality. [2]

In schools, researchers have found that students in classrooms with improved ventilation perform better on standardized tests. [3] In healthcare facilities, inadequate air movement can increase the risk of airborne illness transmission.

Common complaints like “stuffy rooms,” temperature inconsistencies, or fatigue can often be traced back to airflow and ventilation issues — even when temperature setpoints and filtration standards are technically being met.

Poor Airflow Wears Down HVAC Systems Faster

Inefficient airflow costs more on your energy bill and accelerates mechanical wear and tear. When fan motors, compressors, and dampers are forced to operate under continuous load, components degrade faster than expected.

This leads to:

More frequent repairs and service calls
Shortened equipment lifespan
Greater downtime and occupant discomfort during peak seasons

A study from the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) notes that air distribution restrictions are a key factor in premature HVAC failure and reduced system capacity. [4]

The cost of replacing a rooftop unit, for example, can range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on building size and complexity — not including indirect costs from temporary system downtime.

Sustainability Targets Can Be Quietly Undermined

Many facilities today are pursuing ESG goals, LEED certification, or local emissions reduction mandates. But airflow inefficiencies can quietly work against those targets by increasing Scope 2 emissions (energy-related emissions) and filter waste.

High-resistance air filters, mainly traditional pleated filters, can contribute to this in two ways:

Increased energy use due to pressure drop
Frequent changeouts, leading to more waste and landfill contribution

According to a 2021 study in Building and Environment, filter pressure drop is one of the most overlooked contributors to unnecessary HVAC energy use — especially when filters are overused or under-maintained. [5]

If a building claims progress in sustainability, it’s important to ensure that filtration and airflow practices align with those claims—both from an energy and waste standpoint.

Missed Opportunities for Incentives and Cost Recovery

One of the lesser-known downsides of inefficient airflow is the lost opportunity to qualify for energy retrofit incentives.

Many utility and government programs across North America offer rebates, grants, or low-interest financing for businesses upgrading HVAC systems, controls, and low-pressure filtration. But to be eligible, buildings often need to demonstrate quantifiable improvements in system performance.

For example, Ontario’s Save on Energy Retrofit Program offers up to 50% of project costs for energy-efficiency upgrades, including those related to ventilation, air handling units, and demand control ventilation systems. [6]

Without data on airflow improvement or energy reduction — or without addressing underlying airflow inefficiencies — buildings may fail to qualify, leaving funding on the table.

Practical Steps to Address Airflow Challenges

The good news is that improving airflow doesn’t require a major capital project. Many impactful changes can be made within existing operations and maintenance cycles.

Here’s where most facilities can start:

Conduct a static pressure and airflow assessment to identify bottlenecks
Replace high-pressure filters with low-pressure, high-efficiency alternatives
Balance and tune your HVAC system, especially if zones have changed due to new usage patterns
Install real-time IAQ monitors to detect issues as they emerge, not after complaints arise
Track filter changeouts and energy use to capture data for future incentive applications

These strategies are already being implemented in facilities across North America — and in most cases, they deliver measurable improvements in energy efficiency, equipment reliability, and occupant satisfaction.

Airflow may not be the most visible part of your building, but it’s one of the most influential. When ignored, it quietly drives up energy costs, reduces system lifespan, and compromises air quality.

For facility managers and business owners focused on performance, sustainability, and operational clarity, airflow should be on the radar — not just as a maintenance metric but as a lever for long-term efficiency and resilience.

Addressing airflow challenges is a straightforward, high-ROI step that supports healthier, more cost-effective, and future-ready buildings.

What is Building Decarbonization?

Jennifer Crowley
Jun 29, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Aerial view of an industrial park leveraging solar power and vegetation grown to counteract carbon dioxide emissions from production within the building — Decarbonizing buildings can lead to numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, cost savings, and improved indoor air quality and occupant health.

Energy demand from buildings and building construction continues to rise, driven by improved access to energy in developing countries, growing demand for air conditioning in tropical countries, greater ownership and use of energy-consuming appliances, and rapid growth in global building floor area.

Decarbonizing buildings can lead to numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, cost savings, and improved indoor air quality and occupant health. In this blog, we will explore what building decarbonization is, the importance of this term, its benefits, and the available resources to support decarbonization efforts.

What is Decarbonization?

Building decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change from a building’s energy sources. The buildings and buildings construction sectors combined are responsible for 30% of total global final energy consumption and 27% of total energy sector emissions. These emissions come from various sources within buildings, such as heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.

Decarbonizing buildings involves shifting away from fossil fuel-based energy sources towards cleaner and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal. It also improves buildings’ energy efficiency to require less energy to operate. Energy-efficient buildings can be achieved through improvements in building envelope insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting upgrades, and other measures.

Building decarbonization is a critical strategy for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. As the global population continues to grow and urbanize, the number of buildings will also increase, making building decarbonization an increasingly important area of focus.

One of the key drivers of building decarbonization is the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet global climate targets. Buildings account for a significant portion of these emissions, and decarbonizing buildings is essential to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. Building decarbonization can also improve the quality of life for building occupants by creating healthier, more comfortable living and working spaces.

Building Emissions

Chart depicting Carbon sources and usage throughout its lifecycle along with ways to counteract usage — Implementing energy-efficient designs and technologies, such as passive solar heating, green roofs, & energy-efficient lighting/appliances, buildings can reduce their carbon footprint.

There are two main types of building emissions;

Operational carbon is the amount of carbon emitted during the operation of a building. This includes both energy and water-related emissions during the use of the building.

Embodied carbon is the amount of carbon emitted from the extraction of raw materials for the building to the building’s end of life, including refrigerant emissions. It is everything in the life of the building that is not covered by operational carbon.

Benefits of Building Decarbonization

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Buildings are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions. Building decarbonization can significantly reduce these emissions, helping mitigate climate change’s impacts. By implementing energy-efficient building designs and technologies, such as passive solar heating, green roofs, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances, buildings can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Cost Savings

Building decarbonization can also provide significant economic benefits. For example, implementing energy-efficient technologies and designs can reduce energy bills and operating costs for building owners and occupants. Building decarbonization can also create new job opportunities in industries such as renewable energy and energy-efficient building design and construction.

Health Benefits

Building decarbonization can also positively impact indoor air quality and occupant health. Building decarbonization can improve air quality and reduce exposure to pollutants by reducing energy consumption and promoting natural ventilation and daylighting. This can improve building occupants’ health outcomes, such as reduced asthma and allergy symptoms.

Decarbonization Resources

The Building Decarbonization Coalition maintains a list and map of state and local decarbonization efforts in the United States.
The Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard tracks provinces and territories.
The Carbon Leadership Forum has created a Carbon Policy Toolkit.

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