Clean Air in Buildings | The White House

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About the Challenge

The quality and cleanliness of the air we breathe everyday has a significant impact on our health and well-being. Better indoor air quality is a powerful tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge is a call to action for organizational leaders and building owners and operators of all types to assess their indoor air quality and make ventilation, air filtration, and air cleaning improvements to help keep building occupants safe. As part of the Challenge, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a best practices guide for improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of spreading dangerous airborne particles. This guide – developed in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other federal agencies – contains a set of clear recommendations organized into four categories.

The Biden-Harris Administration and Congress have provided hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds that can be used in schools, public buildings, and other settings to improve indoor air quality, including $350 billion for state and local governments, as well as $122 billion for schools, through the American Rescue Plan. These dollars are being put to work improving Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and making other ventilation and filtration improvements. In addition to state and local government buildings, we are calling on businesses and other institutions around our communities to improve indoor air quality to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The White House is inviting building owners and operators across the country to join us in our efforts to continue fighting the spread of COVID-19 by publicly pledging to meet the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge.

The Challenge: 4 Key Commitments

Leaders, owners, and operators of businesses, schools, and other buildings participating in the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge have raised their hands and pledged to take four action steps:

Create a Clean Indoor Air Action Plan

Create a plan for upgrades and improvements, including HVAC inspections and maintenance if applicable.

Optimize Fresh Air Ventilation

Bring clean outdoor air indoors and circulate it when it is safe to do so.

Enhance Air Filtration and Cleaning 

By taking steps such as improving your central HVAC system and/or installing in-room air cleaning devices including HEPA filters.

Engage the Building Community 

Communicate with building occupants to increase awareness, commitment, and participation.