Breathing is a prerequisite to life: we need to breathe from the moment we are born until the moment we die. Every day an adult breathes 15 cubic meter of air, to the point that more air enters our body and blood than any other substance.
Access to clean air is a fundamental right for all citizens in the European Union
Air pollution, both indoor and outdoor affects 100% of the European population and is responsible for a wide range of health effects. The Seventh EU Environment Action Programme aims at achieving “levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on, and risks to human health and environment”.
Climate change and air pollution make pollen grains suspend in the air more aggressive to human health. People living with asthma, allergy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the first citizens harmed by dirty air. Their symptoms of their diseases may worsen as a result of air pollution.
As affected patients, air quality is one of our areas of work and at EFA we advocate for:
- Reducing air pollution concentrations to levels in line with the recommendations from the World Health Organisation;
- Adopting an EU strategy to tackle bad indoor air quality;
- Securing pollen information and forecasting services and surveys.
Our advocacy activities on air quality are voiced and supported by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), an EU umbrella organisation of which we are full members.
EFA’s documents and activities in indoor air quality
- EFA response to European Commission (DG ENER) consultation on a "Renovation Wave" initiative for the building sector (available here, June 2020)
- EurActiv opinion editorial by EFA President Mikaela Odemyr - "Our own homes are making us sick: Energy efficiency is part of the cure" (December 2017)
- Build Up Webinar "Health Performance of nearly Zero – Energy Buildings (NZEBs)" - EFA Presentation ‘The importance of good IAQ and ventilation’ (December 2017)
- Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) summit “Delivering healthy & energy efficient building with Energy performance on Buildings Directive (EPBD)” - EFA Presentation (November 2017)
- European Ventilation Industry Association (EVIA) and European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), EUREKA Roadshow - EFA Presentation (September 2017)
- Infographic on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and its potential for better respiratory heatlh - "We need an Indoor Air Quality Performance Certificate" English / German (September 2017)
- Healthy Building Day conference, European Parliament event - EFA Presentation "Why buildings are key to achieve a better health in the EU?" (May 2017)
- European Ventilation Industry Association (EVIA) seminar “Indoor Air Quality in energy efficient buildings” - EFA Presentation (May 2016)
- Presentation Poor indoor air quality: a public health problem – Emissions and Odours from Materials (October 2013)
- European Ventilation Industry Association (EVIA) meeting - EFA Presentation (May 2013)
- Report of the workshop Indoor Air Quality and its Effects on Health: a Presentation of the Guidelines for Health-Based Ventilation in Europe “HealthVent Project” – March 2013
- Presentations HealthVent Project guidelines – European Parliament event (20/02/2013)
- Energy efficient buildings and healthy people: patients’ perspective – June 2012