This Air Quality Awareness Week, public health experts are calling for urgent attention to a threat hiding in plain sight: the air inside the buildings where we work, learn, and gather.
While outdoor pollution gets most of the headlines, indoor air may be the greater—and more overlooked—hazard. Americans spend almost 90% of their lives inside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet air quality in those shared spaces is often neglected, even as evidence mounts that poor indoor air is linked to asthma, airborne infections, and even changes in DNA.
The American Lung Association’s 2025 State of the Air report found that nearly half of Americans—156 million people—live with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, the highest number recorded in a decade. That staggering figure includes areas affected by worsening wildfires and heatwaves, two climate-driven forces that have sharply increased ozone and particulate matter across much of the U.S.
But the problem doesn’t stop at the front door. Polluted outdoor air enters buildings through ventilation systems, open windows, and poorly sealed structures. Once inside, without proper filtration or purification, pollutants linger—accumulating over time and quietly eroding indoor air quality.
And they’re not just irritating—they’re dangerous. The World Health Organization warns that airborne pathogens can remain suspended in indoor environments, increasing the risk of infection. Fine particulate matter has been linked to asthma and lung disease. Some studies even show that exposure to certain indoor pollutants can suppress immune function at the genetic level.
“Nearly half of Americans are breathing unhealthy air, yet most of us spend 90% of our time indoors,” said Audwin Cash, CEO of GPS Air. “If we’re serious about public health, we need to prioritize the quality of the air in the spaces where we live, work, and learn.”
The Asthma Connection: Why Indoor Air Is a Key Factor
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in the U.S., affecting about 1 in 12 people. While genetics and outdoor pollutants play a role, indoor air is increasingly recognized as a major trigger—and a potential point of intervention.
Whether in office buildings, schools, hospitals, or airports, the air we share indoors can have an outsized impact on respiratory health. Common indoor pollutants like dust, mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and bacteria can all trigger or worsen asthma symptoms, particularly in children and older adults.
As buildings become more tightly sealed for energy efficiency, pollutants have fewer ways to escape—unless actively managed through smart air purification systems.
5 Smart Ways to Improve Air and Reduce Energy Use
Fortunately, improving indoor air quality doesn’t have to mean running fans around the clock or upgrading to oversized HVAC units. In fact, smarter air strategies can create healthier environments and reduce operating costs. Here are five expert-backed approaches:
- Don’t just circulate—clean strategically.
Flooding a space with outdoor air 24/7 is inefficient. Instead, combine air cleaning with smart sensors that activate only when pollutant levels rise. This reduces strain on HVAC systems while improving indoor health. - Measure what matters.
CO₂ levels are only part of the story. Use sensors that detect fine particles and VOCs like formaldehyde to get a complete picture of your air quality—and act accordingly. - Integrate air systems with building automation.
Choose systems that work in sync with your building management platform. Real-time adjustments based on occupancy and air quality improve efficiency and reduce guesswork. - Stay ahead of bad air days.
Air quality can plummet quickly due to wildfires or spikes in outdoor pollution. Use systems that automatically activate purification when air gets dirty—no need to guess or rely on delayed alerts. - Save energy while protecting people.
Intelligent purification reduces the need for constant outdoor air intake—cutting heating and cooling loads while maintaining healthy indoor environments.
“Clean indoor air should be the standard, not the exception,” said Cash. “Today’s technology makes it possible for any building to provide healthy air without sacrificing efficiency. Air purification isn’t a ‘nice to have’—it’s essential to well-being and operational success.”
Indoor Air Is Public Health Infrastructure
Indoor air quality is no longer just about comfort or avoiding illness. It’s about protecting cognitive performance, enabling community resilience, and supporting long-term public health. The growing threat of airborne infections indoors—whether from seasonal or global outbreaks—demands more sophisticated solutions than standard filters or fixed ventilation schedules.
It’s not just a personal health issue. It’s an infrastructure challenge affecting schools, transportation hubs, office buildings, and public institutions.
The good news? New technology makes it possible to clean indoor air efficiently, verify performance in real-time, and reduce energy waste—all at once. But without greater awareness, many decision-makers may still view air quality as a secondary concern.
Air Quality Awareness Week is a reminder that it’s time for a mindset shift—clean air must be viewed as essential, not exceptional.
Air quality shapes how we feel, think, and function. It impacts equity, productivity, and well-being. And when nearly half the country is breathing unsafe air—and most of that breathing happens indoors—clean indoor air must be more than a goal. It must be the standard.