{"id":91871,"date":"2026-08-28T14:26:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T12:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gresb.com\/?p=91871"},"modified":"2026-08-31T08:57:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:57:22","slug":"nature-inspired-indoor-air-quality-how-dielectric-barrier-discharge-ionization-supports-healthy-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gresb.com\/nature-inspired-indoor-air-quality-how-dielectric-barrier-discharge-ionization-supports-healthy-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature-inspired indoor air quality: How dielectric barrier discharge ionization supports healthy buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our industry is engaged in an important dialogue to improve the efficiency and resilience of real assets through transparency and industry collaboration. This article is a contribution to this larger conversation and does not necessarily reflect GRESB\u2019s position.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

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As the built environment continues to evolve toward healthier, more sustainable buildings, the focus is shifting beyond simply filtering air to creating indoor environments that more closely resemble the natural world. Nature has maintained clean air for millions of years through a combination of atmospheric chemistry, sunlight, rainfall, and naturally occurring ions.<\/p>\n

Today, advances in air treatment technology allow building owners to harness one of these natural processes indoors.<\/p>\n

AtmosAir\u2019s Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Bipolar Ionization technology is designed to replicate the continuous production of oxygen ions that naturally occur in clean outdoor environments. Rather than introducing synthetic chemicals or relying solely on passive filtration, the technology supports natural oxidation processes that continuously reduce airborne contaminants throughout occupied spaces.<\/p>\n

For organizations pursuing ambitious sustainability objectives, this represents a practical example of a nature-based approach to improving indoor environmental quality while supporting operational efficiency.<\/p>\n

Learning from nature<\/h3>\n

In the outdoor environment, oxygen molecules are continuously energized by natural phenomena including ultraviolet radiation from the sun, waterfalls, ocean surf, lightning, and cosmic radiation. These energy sources generate positively and negatively charged oxygen ions that participate in atmospheric cleansing processes.<\/p>\n

These naturally occurring ions interact with airborne particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors, and certain microorganisms. Through a series of oxidation and charge-transfer reactions, contaminants are broken down into simpler compounds or aggregated into larger particles that settle more readily or are more effectively removed by filtration (Daniels 2002<\/a>).<\/p>\n

This process is one reason why outdoor air often feels noticeably fresher after a thunderstorm or near moving water.<\/p>\n

Indoor environments, however, typically contain significantly lower concentrations of these naturally occurring ions due to enclosed construction, mechanical ventilation, and limited natural ion generation. At the same time, occupants spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where contaminants can accumulate from people, furnishings, cleaning products, cooking, and outdoor pollution.<\/p>\n

Replicating a natural process indoors<\/h3>\n

AtmosAir\u2019s DBD Bipolar Ionization technology recreates this naturally occurring phenomenon using electricity rather than sunlight or lightning.<\/p>\n

On the surface of the ionization tubes, dielectric barrier discharge creates a controlled plasma field that energizes oxygen molecules already present in the air. No chemicals are added to the airstream. Instead, naturally occurring oxygen is converted into a balanced mixture of positive and negative oxygen ions similar to those found outdoors.<\/p>\n

These ions disperse throughout occupied spaces, continuously interacting with contaminants wherever the air travels\u2014not only inside the HVAC system, but throughout the occupied zone.<\/p>\n

This proactive approach differs from technologies that depend exclusively on contaminated air passing through a filter or treatment device before any action occurs.<\/p>\n

Supporting healthier indoor environments<\/h3>\n

Once released into occupied spaces, oxygen ions contribute to several beneficial air cleaning mechanisms.<\/p>\n

They can:<\/p>\n