Pandemic Center

Clean Indoor Air

An Action Plan for Governors

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters 

  • Americans spend 90% of their time indoors  
  • Indoor air can be 2 to 5 times—or even 100 times—more polluted than outdoor air
  • Poor indoor air is linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic health conditions.  
  • Clean indoor air reduces sick days and worker absenteeism, and boosts performance and productivity in the workplace. 

Recommendations 

1. Appoint an indoor air coordinator.  Indoor air quality often falls between the cracks of various government programs and agencies. Often, there is no clear point person in charge of indoor air quality at the state level, or the responsibility is diffused across multiple state agencies. To improve coordination, the governor’s office or state leadership should appoint an Indoor Air Coordinator to bring together voices from across the state. Additionally, depending on state and local needs, state health departments could establish an (a) indoor air quality program, (b) interagency coordinating body, or (c) IAQ advisory council with external advisors, experts, and community members.  

2. Establish an interagency coordinating body.  Indoor air quality is often not the primary responsibility of any department, with responsibilities spread across departments of health, education, energy, environment, general services, housing, labor, and transportation. Depending on state needs, the coordinating body can take the form of a formal interagency coordinating body, a task force, or a more informal working group.  

3. Lead by example in state and municipal buildings.  State and local governments can create market demand for cleaner indoor air by leading by example in the buildings they own, operate, and fund. By setting higher standards for indoor air in public buildings, governments can demonstrate feasibility, drive broader market adoption, and protect the health of public employees and building occupants. Key actions for state and local governments include:  

  • Require healthy building certification, such as LEED or WELL. These certifications often include indoor air requirements that exceed minimum code requirements.
  • Monitor indoor air quality in public buildings such as state offices, schools, and healthcare facilities to ensure ongoing building performance and identify issues.
  • Conduct regular HVAC assessments and inspections to ensure that ventilation systems are functioning properly and are regularly maintained.  
  • Integrate IAQ into capital planning and procurement to ensure ongoing attention to IAQ across the full life cycle of public buildings. 

Case Study: California IAQ Task Force 

Following the release of California’s SMARTER Plan in February 2022, upon request from the Governor’s office, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) convened an interagency IAQ Task Force to coordinate state agency action and develop a set of recommendations for advancing clean indoor air across California. In addition to the California Department of Public Health, members of the task force included representatives across 8 other state entities.  

Case Study: Colorado High Performance Certification Program 

Under Colorado Revised Statute § 24-30-1305.5, all new construction, additions, and major renovations of state-owned buildings must comply with the High Performance Certification Program (HPCP) if they meet all of the following criteria: 

  • The project receives 25% or more of state funds, and
  • The new facility, addition, or renovation project contains 5,000 or more building square feet, and
  • The building includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and
  • In the case of a renovation project, the cost of the renovation exceeds 25% of the current value of the property. For projects that meet these applicability criteria, the High Performance Certification Program requires projects to receive third-party verification through LEED or Green Globes Certification.