Indoor Air Quality – Celebrating Clean Air Month

Indoor Air Quality – Celebrating Clean Air Month

May is Clean Air Month, but don’t expect to celebrate with fireworks! In 1972, the American Lung Association began sponsoring Clean Air Month with the following goals in mind:

  • Educate people about the impact clean air has on our lives
  • Encourage people to take positive steps to improve air quality—both globally and locally
  • Celebrate improvements made in indoor air quality over the years

To understand the importance of this celebration, take a quick trip down memory lane and remember some environmental crises of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

  • Smog (a contraction of ‘smoke’ and ‘fog’) was a haze of pollution visible hovering over major US cities. A steep increase in asthma and emphysema resulted. Smog results from auto emissions and industrial pollutants.
  • Sulfur and nitrogen pollutants were collected in precipitation and fell as “acid rain,” damaging both flora and fauna nationwide. It also caused corrosion on stone and concrete structures.
  • The Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire 13 times—yes, you read that correctly. The river was covered with a thick soup of oil and waste. The largest, most notable fire was on June 22, 1969.

These crises led Richard Nixon to encourage the Clean Air Act of 1970 and established the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the air, water, and soil. This led to setting emission guidelines for automobiles and industrial waste and eliminating waste being dumped into rivers, lakes, oceans, and on land.

How Can You Celebrate Indoor Air Quality and Clean Air Month?

What can one family possibly do to improve air quality globally? More than you think!

  • Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. Small things do make a difference.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint with wise decisions.
  • Reduce energy use in your home
    • Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs
    • Watch for ENERGY STAR ratings on appliances
    • Heating and air conditioning account for 43% of your energy use, so keep your HVAC system clean and well maintained.
  • Replace toxic cleaning supplies with safer, greener choices
  • Improve your indoor air quality
    • Remove your shoes immediately upon entering your home. This reduces the amount of dust and dirt your spread inside
    • Vacuum and dust your house often to remove airborne contaminants
    • Run your air conditioner as needed. It removes moisture from the air; a home with high humidity is susceptible to the growth of mold and mildew.
    • Replace your HVAC air filter regularly—at least once every 3 months
    • Purchase an air purifier if needed to remove indoor contaminants.

How Can We Help You Celebrate Clean Air Month?

This month is a great time to celebrate indoor air quality. Let us help you make a difference in the clean air in your home,  call AllCool AC & Heating at 281-238-9292 or contact us via email.

Indoor Air Quality - Celebrating Clean Air Month