October 30th, 2025

How the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air Is Redefining Public Health

When people think about air pollution, they often picture city smog, factory smoke, or wildfire haze. But the greatest risk to our health often comes from inside our buildings. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, where the air can be 2-5X more polluted than outside.

To address this overlooked health issue, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) created the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air. This group brings together experts in health, science, architecture, and policy to make indoor air quality (IAQ) a public health priority.

Why The Commission Matters

Regulations exist for clean water, food safety, and energy efficiency, yet the air we breathe remains largely unregulated. This lack of oversight has serious consequences. Research links poor indoor air quality to asthma, heart disease, cognitive decline, infections, and even premature death. It also reduces focus, learning, and productivity—costing businesses and communities worldwide.

The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air was formed to change this. Its goals are to:

• Establish global standards and best practices for clean indoor air

• Create national Blueprints for Healthy Indoor Air, which guide funding, education, and policy

• Drive a worldwide movement to treat indoor air as a key part of health and sustainability

This initiative reframes indoor air as a vital health issue, not just a comfort concern.

Dr. Stephanie Taylor: Leading at the Intersection of Health and Buildings

Among the Commission’s members is Dr. Stephanie Taylor, MD, M.Arch, CIC—Medical Advisor for ThinkLite Air. A Harvard-trained physician and architect, Dr. Taylor has spent her career studying how buildings affect health. Her work shows that indoor air directly influences how people think, heal, and perform.

Dr. Taylor co-created The Health Index IAQ software platform with ThinkLite Air. It helps building managers turn data into action by showing how air conditions affect occupant health.

The health Index:

• Tracks over 30 air quality factors in real time

• Explains how air conditions affect different body systems and long-term health

• Sends clear alerts on what actions to take

• Connects with Building Management Systems (BMS) to make automatic improvements

• Displays information in an easy, visual format

From Awareness to Action

The launch of the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air marks a turning point. As climate change worsens outdoor pollution and urban populations expand, collaboration is essential. Healthcare, technology, design, and government must work together to create and enforce indoor air standards.

New tools such as ThinkLite Air’s Flair IAQ Monitor and Health Index make it possible to track indoor air in real time and connect building data directly to health outcomes. This data-driven approach helps shape smarter policies and creates environments that protect both people and the planet.

Redefining What “Healthy” Means Indoors

The message is clear: indoor air quality must be treated with the same importance as clean water and energy efficiency. The science is proven. The technology is ready. The time to act is now.

As Dr. Taylor and her fellow Commissioners lead this global effort, organizations, policymakers, and building professionals share a common responsibility—to make every indoor space a place that supports human health and well-being.