Now the indoor climate will be as safe as the bank

– We take the indoor climate and working environment of our employees very seriously. That is why we are now in the process of mapping the indoor climate in buildings we lease, as well as those we own ourselves, says specialist at SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, Sigurd Seglem Asbjørnsen.

Good indoor climate is not a given
There are no reliable figures on how many buildings actually have poor indoor climate, but in a survey carried out by Respons Analyse for GK in 2023, one in four employees says they are generally troubled by poor or very poor indoor climate at work. Poor indoor climate means that air quality, temperature, humidity, noise or lighting conditions indoors are at a level that causes discomfort or health problems for those present. It can also involve dangerous gases that not only cause discomfort but are directly harmful to health.
– We want to find out how things actually stand, which is why we have entered into a collaboration with Energy Control, says Seglem Asbjørnsen.

Taking action as a tenant
The bank has office premises all over southern Norway and in most of them they are tenants. So far they have begun monitoring four buildings, three of which are leased from external landlords.
– Good indoor climate is our responsibility as an employer. We therefore make no distinction between buildings we lease and those we own ourselves. We are therefore well underway with the mapping in both buildings we lease and those we own, says Seglem Asbjørnsen.

He explains that the sensors are wireless and do not require any structural intervention. They are simple to install and just as easily removed as they are put up.
– The mapping is therefore easy to carry out and within just a few hours we start receiving indoor climate data from the buildings. The sensors give us valuable insight into the indoor climate, which in turn makes it easier to document and follow up on conditions that affect well-being and comfort, says Seglem Asbjørnsen.

Chief safety representative Roar Olsen emphasises that the technology also makes it easier for them to be proactive.
– We can now make adjustments before any potential challenges arise. That in itself contributes to a more stable and more comfortable working environment, says Olsen.

Cooperating well with landlords
Asbjørnsen says the landlords who own the buildings they are now mapping have been positive about SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge taking the initiative on indoor climate monitoring. – We have only encountered goodwill. They have been curious about the findings and positive about implementing any necessary measures, says Seglem Asbjørnsen. He explains that so far they have only found minor indoor climate deviations, which they are now in ongoing dialogue with the landlord about rectifying.
– The sensors have given us useful insight. Based on the data from the buildings, we are now in the process of making appropriate measures and adjustments, says Seglem Asbjørnsen, adding that they will now be expanding the testing in more of the buildings they occupy.

A clear trend
Founder and CEO of Energy Control, Tommy Hagenes, says that more and more tenants are now following the bank's lead.
– Employers are no longer sitting on the sidelines – they are taking active responsibility for their own indoor climate. I think this is due to increased awareness of the importance of good indoor climate and its impact on people's health, says Hagenes.
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