You must keep in mind that even the best-built buildings do not guarantee adequate air ventilation. We may have ideal dwellings, with fantastic window space and ventilation functions, but unless these are used properly, we will not benefit from good indoor air quality.

Important features of ventilation are: coolness, motion and the correct amount of freshness and humidity.

There is a lot of disfavour about air in motion. A subtle draft is one of the best friends a good health achiever could have. Nevertheless, too strong of a draft directly on someone for an extended period of time, is not recommended, but a calm draft that normally occurs with good ventilation, is absolutely wonderful for you.

Needless to say, people that are overly sensitive to drafts should refrain of exposing oneself to too much exposure to drafts while changing their daily rituals. You will notice that even after only a few days of air in motion, and with guarded exposure to this pleasurable air, the chance of catching a cold is greatly diminished, and people that become accustomed to this sort of gentle drafts, become almost immune to colds.

The very common notion that colds are derived from drafts is greatly magnified. Usually, a cold of any sort is derived from germs and not drafts, for which there is normally a pre-existing cause. These unwanted germs are usually exhibited in the throat and nose. It is the exposure to these drafts along with a vulnerable predisposing weakness of the body that will then create a cold.

Certainly, one must use one's judgement. It's almost unlikely that anyone with a perspiration should sit in front of a draft.

Usually the best ventilation will come from windows. It is recommended to keep windows open almost all of the time in the summer and frequently in the winter.

A cross-current of air is highly recommended within reason of course, to allow for the incoming of fresh air and the outgoing of stale air at other opposite ends of the room. If you are unable to have this sort of cross-current in the room, try opening the window both on the top and the bottom.

Air in a home or workplace, should never be allowed to become stagnant. If the natural movement of air is no longer there, then it should be created artificially. The ideal way of creating this sort of flowing air is with the use of fans or other electrical currents. Even a simple hand held fan can be a great benefit.

Coolness is almost as important as motion. A lot of people submerge themselves into heat as soon as the colder season begins. The recommended temperature of living and work areas should be no higher than 70 degrees. Too much heat can be depressing. Both mental and physical abilities are lessened by too much heat. A substantially heated room can even cause rashes from the higher body temperatures.

A dry climate is fabulous. Try to choose these sort of locations when planning vacations. It can however be difficult to dry air inside a home or workplace that is too humid.

During cold weather, an indoor area can become too dry from extensive heat and can often be moistened with many advantages.

Obviously, fresh pure air is desirable to impure air. Air can be accompanied by germs, dust and smoke, even poisonous gases. Smoke and dust often go hand in hand.

Quite often pure air is compromised by tobacco smoke. Smoking, particularly in a closed room or car, seriously affects the integrity of pure air, for smokers and non-smokers alike.

As to dust, occupations and trades that are often known as dusty trades, have shown greater mortality rates.

Too much house dust should be avoided. The dust should be removed by using not an old-fashioned type feather duster, but from the use of an oiled or damp cloth. You don't want this dust to be flying everywhere. Also, a carpet-sweeper or vacuum is more hygienic than a broom, again for the same reason.

Just remember that sunlight is fantastic for the air that we breathe! Many germs won't survive in sunlight!