Volts What's the deal with indoor air quality?
Nov 19, 2025
Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, a bioengineer and senior fellow at Brown University's Pandemic Center, discusses the urgent need for improved indoor air quality. She shares insights on the global pledge declaring clean air a human right and highlights the main indoor pollutants, including PM2.5 and CO2. Dr. Lagoudas explains effective strategies like filtration and ventilation, offers practical tips for individuals and schools, and underscores the socio-economic benefits of clean air. The conversation exposes the historical neglect of indoor air and the necessary policy shifts for healthier environments.
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Three Practical Air‑Cleaning Tools
- Use three air‑cleaning tools: filtration, ventilation, and air disinfection (e.g., upper‑room UV).
- Filters are cheapest and easiest; UV is proven in hospitals for disinfecting air.
Design Buildings With Smart Ventilation
- For new buildings, design high baseline ventilation plus demand‑control ventilation tied to sensors.
- Combine ventilation with energy recovery and filtration to stay energy efficient while keeping CO2 low.
Filters Work — Upgrade MERV Ratings
- Filter technology is well established and inexpensive; MERV rating matters more than novelty.
- Upgrading from common MERV‑8 to MERV‑13 dramatically improves particle and virus capture.