Bill Overview
Title: Airborne Act
Description: This bill allows owners of commercial or public properties a tax credit for the cost of an indoor air quality assessment and an air filter or qualified HVAC upgrade to such properties. The bill also directs the Department of Energy to establish a voluntary certification program for property owners to certify that their properties are in compliance with the indoor air quality standards added by this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8]
Target Audience
Population: People spending time in commercial or public properties globally
Estimated Size: 170000000
- The bill provides incentives for property owners to assess and improve indoor air quality.
- Building occupants, particularly those working in or visiting commercial and public properties, will benefit from improved air quality.
- Estimates suggest that improved air quality in buildings can enhance health outcomes for workers and building users.
- Conventional office and retail buildings around the world will potentially receive upgrades under this bill.
- Health benefits associated with indoor air quality improvements are most relevant to urban populations who spend a lot of time in indoor environments.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on providing tax incentives to property owners for improving indoor air quality through HVAC upgrades and assessments.
- Given budget constraints, not all public and private properties will receive upgrades in the first year, and impact spread over the years will depend on available funds.
- Urban populations who spend significant time indoors, such as workers in commercial buildings, will be a primary impacted group.
- Given the widespread need for indoor air improvement, the policy could enhance general health outcomes, particularly respiratory health amongst the more vulnerable populations.
- By incentivizing voluntary certification, the policy also encourages broader participation among property owners.
Simulated Interviews
Office Worker (New York City, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a smart move to finally address indoor air quality.
- As someone with asthma, better air could mean fewer flare-ups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retail Manager (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad this policy will push for cleaner air in our malls.
- It makes me hopeful for healthier work conditions and less stress about my family's health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Barista (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cleaner air in cafes is good news.
- Maintaining air quality should be a priority in public spaces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
School Teacher (Houston, TX)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that improves air quality in schools is a win for teachers and students.
- Improved air quality could help me focus on teaching rather than health concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tech Startup Employee (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great initiative for more sustainable and healthier workplaces.
- I prefer spending time in certified spaces for peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Cleaner air in public spaces like museums is essential, especially for folks my age.
- I'm glad the policy highlights air quality—it’s an often-ignored issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help with my allergy issues during class.
- More institutions should pay attention to air quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Restaurant Owner (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Clean air is not just good for the health, but business as well.
- I'm interested in getting certified to stand out as a healthier choice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Public Health Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Airborne Act is a great move towards healthier living environments.
- I've seen first-hand how indoor pollution impacts community health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Freelancer (Denver, CO)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm only partly affected since my home environment won't benefit from this directly.
- However, when I do use public spaces, better air would be appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000000 (Low: $2700000000, High: $3300000000)
Year 2: $3200000000 (Low: $2880000000, High: $3520000000)
Year 3: $3400000000 (Low: $3060000000, High: $3740000000)
Year 5: $3600000000 (Low: $3240000000, High: $3960000000)
Year 10: $4000000000 (Low: $3600000000, High: $4400000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5500000000)
Key Considerations
- Widespread adoption of the certification program could be limited by its voluntary nature, affecting its cost-effectiveness.
- Economic benefits from improved worker health might take years to be realized.
- The initial fiscal impact will be driven largely by the uptake of tax credits.