As a primarily respiratory-linked virus, COVID-19 has underlined the importance of breathing clean air for all.
The pandemic has functioned as a reminder that many of the most harmful particles are both invisible and floating around us a lot of the time. Consumers are already reacting: According to the Associated Press, in the next decade, the air purifier industry is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 10%.
National Lockdowns Call Attention to Unhealthy Norms
Most people live in areas that exceed the WHO’s guidelines regarding safe air pollution levels. As lockdown protocols began in early 2020, smog-heavy places like Los Angeles, suddenly witnessed a brief change in their skies, thanks to a momentary respite from heavy vehicle traffic. Unfortunately, this only lasted for 21 days, the longest stretch of clear sky LA had experienced in the past four decades. The temporary glimpse at the potential of clean air ignited people’s imaginations.
Increased Understanding of the Indoor-Outdoor Air Quality Continuum
Health providers are becoming more aware of the outdoor-indoor air quality continuum - the reality that our daily interaction with pollution inside the home matters just as much as our experience with contaminated outside.
Having spent a lot more time indoors during 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the focus has also turned to indoor air quality and ventilation management best practices in a bid to prevent virus transmission. The WHO came out with a roadmap to ensure proper indoor ventilation measures, not only in regards to Covid-19 but for general health benefits too.
In Germany, a new $488 million initiative was launched to carry out ventilation upgrades in public facilities and allow eligible sites to apply for CO2 sensor installation funding. This pursuit of cleaner air quality also led global organizations like the Well Building Institute to develop new building health rating certification standards, focusing on air quality, ventilation features, and other health-conscious improvements.