The Key to Better Indoor Air Quality Management in Buildings

Research InsightsStrategies & SolutionsViral Response Module
Written By Marcos Reynaga
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Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

Last year, the Center for Active Design (CfAD) responded to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request for information on indoor air quality and disease transmission. This request for comment followed the White House Summit on Improving Indoor Air Quality, which brought together public health and ventilation experts, private sector and education leaders, and other stakeholders. The 2022 Summit focused on the benefits of improved indoor air quality in mitigating COVID-19, showcasing schools and businesses that are leading the way through the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge.

To kick off Clean Air Month – and to recognize Air Quality Awareness Week – we’ve rounded up CfAD’s key points.

In short, while focusing on improved indoor air quality is critical, a multi-faceted approach to healthy indoor environments is needed to make a lasting impact on public health.

When it comes to the role the federal government can play in these initiatives, we consider the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge an essential starting point rather than an endpoint. With this perspective in mind, here are our responses:

  1. Indoor air quality is just one aspect of what it means to create a healthy environment and cannot exist in a silo. To effectively reduce the transmission of contagious disease, other interventions such as transparent communication, emergency preparedness, face coverings, and cleaning practices must be considered.

  2. The impact of high-quality indoor air goes far beyond reducing the transmission of contagious diseases. This effort presents an opportunity to think about indoor air quality holistically and consider its impact on chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD, and other respiratory health conditions. As such, interventions such as material off-gassing, smoking policies, and general maintenance should be considered.

  3. Indoor air quality is also an equity issue and a key contributor to health disparities. The federal government is well-poised to address these disparities by prioritizing IAQ within underserved communities. Research indicates that reducing particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and mouse allergen within the indoor environment can help control asthma rates, which are significantly higher within Black and American Indian communities.

  4. Standard-setting organizations, such as the Center for Active Design, offer actionable guidance that can be used to support federal efforts and accelerate implementation. Collaboration with stakeholders across the real estate sector, including other standard-setting organizations, will be key to the success of this effort.

  5. Given the complexity of indoor air quality and the variety of context-specific needs, the guidance or standard developed should remain flexible and offer a variety of pathways to achieve the goal of optimized indoor air quality across a range of building types.

    To view the full response, visit Regulations.gov.

 

In our upcoming Building Health publication, we’ll be sharing key insights related to indoor air quality, climate change resilience, and other topics at the intersection of health and the built environment.

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Marcos Reynaga
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