Ventilation Assessment and Action Guide

Breathing clean, fresh air indoors isn’t just about comfort — it’s essential for health, productivity, and overall well-being. This guide, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Emergency Management Program (FEMP), explores how to spot signs of poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ), when and how to apply effective ventilation strategies, and how to do it all efficiently. Specifically, it provides information on how to evaluate ventilation levels, best maintenance practices for supporting ventilation, and common improvement measures for inadequately ventilated spaces. There are also best practices for performing upkeep on heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to extend equipment life and reduce costs resulting from system replacement or long-term maintenance.