Checked November 10, 2026. Each program revises its features and credits; check the current version before you rely on it.
Why indoor air shows up in ESG
In an ESG report, the people in a building sit under the social pillar. GRESB asks real estate owners about their tenant health and well-being program, and about the measures behind it, “including measures of air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, and lighting” (GRESB TC5.2). In LEED v5, quality of life carries about a quarter of the points, and Indoor Air Quality Performance alone is worth up to 10 points for an existing building.
The programs side by side
| Program | What it asks of indoor air data |
|---|---|
| LEED v5 O+M, Indoor Air Quality Performance | Continuous monitoring for at least three consecutive months, recording at least hourly and every 15 minutes for CO₂, scored on CO₂ and PM2.5 levels with points for monitoring TVOC. A one-time testing option earns fewer points |
| RESET Air | Continuous monitoring is required, with accredited monitors measuring PM2.5, CO₂, TVOC, temperature and humidity, assessed against daily averages for occupied hours |
| WELL v2 | Rewards continuous air quality monitoring, with the readings shared with occupants. Check the current feature language for sensor requirements |
| Fitwel | An indoor air quality assessment strategy, with thresholds for pollutants including CO₂ and TVOC |
| GRESB | Asks what health and well-being measures are in place, air quality among them, under the social pillar |
What to check before you choose monitors
The programs differ less on what to measure than on the monitor itself:
- Grade or accreditation. RESET Air counts only accredited monitors. LEED v5 asks for building-grade monitors. WELL sets its own sensor requirements. Check the model against the program before you buy.
- Recording interval. LEED v5 asks for CO₂ every 15 minutes and other readings at least hourly. Confirm the monitor can record that often before you buy it.
- Placement and density. Each program sets how many monitors per floor area and where they go. Plan the layout from the program’s own rules.
- Data you can hand over. Time-stamped readings in a format your consultant and the certifying body can use.
Cognituv Connect offers a multi-parameter indoor air monitor and a CO₂ and particle station that measure CO₂, PM2.5, TVOC, temperature and humidity. We check each model against your program’s language with you during scoping.
Beyond measuring
Readings show where the air needs work. Cognituv treatment acts at the source: Cognituv Grid on the cooling coil in the air handler, and FreshFilter room units with photocatalytic media that target odors and VOCs. The same monitors show the readings before and after.
Frequently asked questions
Do Cognituv Connect monitors count for RESET Air?
RESET Air counts only accredited monitors, and keeps the list. Check each model against it before you plan a RESET project around it; we do that with you during scoping.
Is a one-time air test enough?
For some credits, yes. LEED v5 still offers a one-time testing option, and Fitwel has an assessment strategy. Continuous monitoring earns more in LEED v5, is rewarded in WELL and is required for RESET Air.
Where should air monitors go?
In the occupied rooms people use most, at breathing height, away from doors, windows and supply diffusers. Each program sets its own density and placement rules; follow the one you’re certifying under.
What can Cognituv treat, not just record?
Cognituv treatment acts at the source: UV-C on the cooling coil in the air handler, and room units with photocatalytic media that target odors and VOCs. Cognituv Connect then shows the readings before and after.
Program requirements checked November 10, 2026. Confirm feature and credit language with the certifying body before you plan a project around it. Indoor air monitors show trends; they don’t replace exposure sampling by a qualified industrial hygienist. Updated November 10, 2026.