Nearly half of all Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report. Ozone and particle pollution (in other words, smog and soot) are a health hazard for millions of people, and wildfire smoke and drought make conditions worse.
Other pollutants originate from inside. Carbon monoxide, radon, formaldehyde, asbestos and lead, along with nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves, can have long-term health impacts.
The good news: A few upgrades can mitigate both indoor and outdoor pollutants.
The even-better news: These same improvements can make your home more energy-efficient, often by preventing air transfer and eliminating fossil fuels.
Here’s how to keep your air quality high and your energy costs low.
Monitoring Your Air Quality
How do you know your air quality is poor? The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) measures key pollutants and provides a rating system. This is a scale from 0 to 500, and the higher the AQI goes, the less healthy the air outside. Keep an eye on conditions in your area by downloading the AirNow app or checking the AirNow website.
For highly localized air quality problems – say, the ones caused by appliances, furniture, poor ventilation or other problems in and around your house – an indoor air quality monitor can report on specific pollutants. (Note: Unlike a carbon monoxide detector, these are not meant to alert you to emergencies.)
Sealing Your Home Against Outdoor Pollution
Canadian and Alaskan wildfires have already brought an off-and-on haze throughout much of the U.S. this summer, and forecasts warn that the problem will likely persist. That adds urgency to home upgrades – but even without acute problems like wildfires, you can always benefit from upgrades that control air flow.
In addition to shutting your windows and avoiding outdoor activities when AQI is high, you can guard against pollution with key upgrades:
- Seal cracks around doors with weather stripping
- Insulate and air-seal your home
- Replace older windows with double- or triple-paned models, or add a storm window for a lower up-front cost that still seals against outside air.
A Mass Save® no-cost home energy assessment can provide a personalized report on areas that aren’t sealed or insulated properly, and provide actionable next steps.
If air pollution is an ongoing concern, buy a portable air cleaner to circulate air and remove impurities within your home. The EPA also has instructions on how to build your own makeshift air cleaner if need be.
Eliminating or Mitigating Indoor Pollutants
Obvious sources of indoor air pollution often dissipate over time, like new paint, off-gassing chemicals from new furniture or other products, or fumes from cleaning supplies. The best immediate solutions there are open windows and fans, as well as diligently vacuuming up dust and pet hair.
However, keep an eye out for less-obvious air pollution problems in your home.
Immediate effects of indoor pollutants include headache, coughing fits, dizziness, fatigue, and irritated eyes, nose and throat. If these symptoms only seem to impact you at home but disappear when you’re away from the house for a while, that’s worth investigating.
Indoor air pollutants may seem like a minor issue, but these health impacts can be serious – particularly with prolonged exposure. For example, a 2023 study noted that people in the cleaning industry had 50 percent higher rates of asthma and 43 percent higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as higher cancer risk. The EPA also advises that years-long exposure to indoor pollutants can lead to heart disease, respiratory diseases, and cancer.
To improve your indoor air quality and energy efficiency:
Replace Gas Stoves with Induction:
Nitrogen dioxide is a known health hazard, and recent research showed that indoor exposure (via gas stoves) is potentially much more harmful than previously thought, especially to children. One study found that 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. can be attributed to gas stove use; an older analysis showed that similar amounts of nitrogen dioxide exposure are linked to a 20 percent increase in childhood respiratory illnesses.
Switching to induction eliminates those risks. Also, induction stoves are up to three times more efficient than traditional gas stoves, and up to 10 percent more efficient than conventional smooth-top electric ranges.
Make Sure Exhaust Fans are Working Properly:
Exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom prevent mold, mildew, and buildup of gasses and odors. You may need new filters, or you may benefit from installing newer (and likely more efficient) fans.
Install a Heat Pump:
Swapping a gas furnace for heat pump eliminates the risk of hazardous gas leaks into your living area because they don’t use combustion fuels; they filter outside air before it enters your home; and if you get a ductless heat pump, there is no ductwork to trap contaminants like dust and rodent droppings. In most cases, heat pumps are also far more efficient than other HVAC systems.
Ready to Breathe Easier and Save on Energy?
These ideas can lower your energy costs, while also keeping you healthier at home – even when the AQI starts rising outside. For help making these upgrades, a no-cost home energy assessment is the best place to start. You’ll get personalized recommendations to improve your air quality, boost efficiency, and make your home comfortable year-round.
Schedule your assessment today and take the first step toward a safer, heathier home. Call (781) 776-5711 or contact our team to get started!