Environmental stewardship RSS feed

Air quality program now at East Denver Medical Offices

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In the spring of 2026, Kaiser Permanente members may have seen workers installing a small, colorful box high on a light pole in the Kaiser Permanente East Denver Medical Offices parking lot. Despite its modest appearance, the box will be an important tool for the health of the metro Denver community.

The box is an air quality monitor. It reads and distributes hyperlocal, real-time air quality information. It’s part of a recent expansion of the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment’s Love My Air program into health settings around the city.

How Love My Air works

A hockey puck-sized fan sucks outside air into the box through a tube. A computer reads the air for pollutants including ozone, nitrogen oxide, and other small particles that can make it harder for people to breathe.

Nancy Fitzgerald, program specialist for Love My Air Denver, explains that inside the medical offices, “… we have 2 interactive kiosks that display the data from outside so people can see what's going on in the air they're breathing right now.”

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

In 2025, the program announced it was expanding its air quality monitors and educational kiosks to clinical settings, in part thanks to grant funding from Kaiser Permanente. The expanded monitoring locations included Tepeyac Community Health Center, Inner City Health, and the Kaiser Permanente East Denver Medical Offices.

“We know when that information comes from a source like people's doctor's office or a clinical expert, they're more likely to take action to protect their own health,” said Lisa Romero, senior manager of Community Health, Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

“We really focus on improving the health of our members and the communities we serve,” said Romero, “And we know that air quality is one of the factors that can really impact people's health.”

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

“Asthma rates increase in communities where there's poor air quality, or during time periods when there's poor air quality,” he said. “We see more heart attacks, and we actually see more deaths as a result of poor air quality.”

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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The hidden health effects of the air around you

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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New, sustainably built Lakewood Medical Offices to open

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Pioneering renewable energy solutions

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Hilary Costa
hilary.c.costa@kp.org

Review California AB-1305 compliance disclosures on our greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente has unveiled the largest hospital-based, renewable energy microgrid system in the United States, supporting California’s clean energy transition while improving environmental health and reducing costs.

The new microgrid system at the Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center in Southern California adds 2 megawatts of on-site solar generation and 9 megawatt-hours of non-lithium battery storage capacity to the state’s electrical grid, increasing reliability and supporting California’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045. The microgrid also features a 1-megawatt fuel cell.

The microgrid provides clean, reliable electrical power for the hospital’s day-to-day use and will serve as the initial emergency power backup system during commercial power outages. It has the capacity to serve all the hospital’s emergency power needs for 10 continuous hours.

Kaiser Permanente has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, recognizing that a healthy environment is crucial to the health and wellness of communities. Kaiser Permanente achieved carbon neutral status in 2020, and has pledged to aim for net zero across all emissions by 2050, with a midterm target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030.

“Building on Kaiser Permanente’s legacy of innovation, we are taking a bold step forward in sustainability by embracing clean energy to build a healthier future for generations to come,” said Nor Jemjemian, senior vice president for National Shared Services Operations at Kaiser Permanente. “As an organization that has always led the way in driving innovation and change, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide efficient, sustainable solutions while ensuring accessibility and affordability for our members.”

All California hospitals are required to have backup power in the event of an electrical grid outage affecting their area, traditionally in the form of diesel generators.

In addition to providing emergency backup generation in the rare case of a power outage, the Ontario microgrid increases the hospital’s energy independence and reduces its energy costs. An automated control system will manage how electricity is produced, stored, and used at the site. When buying energy from the grid is inexpensive, the microgrid system will store the renewable energy it produces; when the grid’s energy is more expensive, the system will instead discharge its stored energy.

Kaiser Permanente anticipates the microgrid’s on-site solar power will avoid about 650 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by producing roughly 3,300 megawatt-hours per year of zero-emission electricity. That is enough renewable electricity to power 275 homes year-round.

Research has consistently shown that long-term exposure to air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust, burning fossil fuels, and industrial processes carries an increased risk of poor health conditions including cardiovascular disease — and increases the risk of death from coronary heart disease by 23% and from stroke by 24%.

“We know that pollution and carbon emissions harm people’s health. As a health care provider and anchor institution in the communities we serve, Kaiser Permanente has an obligation and an opportunity to protect the health of our members and communities while preventing or mitigating environmental harms,” said Bechara Choucair, executive vice president and chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente.

The battery storage component of the project was funded through an $8.3 million grant from the California Energy Commission to Faraday Microgrids. The solar power canopies were installed by Ameresco under a power purchase agreement with Kaiser Permanente.

Improvements in battery technologies and climate-driven challenges to electrical grid infrastructure have led Kaiser Permanente to explore innovative energy solutions for its facilities. The organization installed California’s first renewable microgrid at its Richmond Medical Center in 2017. With 250 kilowatts of solar generation and 1-megawatt-hour of battery storage, that hospital’s system reduces energy costs and provides limited backup generation.

“Every day, we look for new ways to improve the total health of our members and the communities we serve,” said Georgina Garcia, senior vice president and San Bernardino County area manager of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. “We know if other hospital systems in the region join us in this effort, we can reduce our industry’s environmental burden, ensuring a healthier future for every resident in the Inland Empire.”

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.

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Leading in sustainable building design

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Review California AB-1305 compliance disclosures on our greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts.

Efficient water use, solar energy, and ample access to public transportation — these are just some of the many considerations that go into the planning and construction of a sustainable building.

And these energy-efficient practices are very much top of mind at Kaiser Permanente as we work to improve the physical and environmental health of the communities we serve.

When we build new health care and business facilities, we strive to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. And we’re meeting that goal.

The council has repeatedly identified us as number one health care organization in the U.S. in terms of LEED-certified square footage, with 10.1 million square feet. We have 82 LEED-certified buildings, including hospitals, medical offices, labs, and administrative offices, among others.

“Kaiser Permanente is proud to prioritize sustainability in how we design and build our facilities. We recognize the role we play in improving the health of the communities we serve,” said Nor Jemjemian, senior vice president for the National Shared Services Operation at Kaiser Permanente. “LEED certification is an important recognition of the ways we adhere to the highest standards for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green facilities.”

Notable Kaiser Permanente LEED-certified buildings

Of our 82 LEED-certified buildings, 13 have achieved the highest possible LEED Platinum level. Another 34 are certified LEED Gold. Read more about some of our most distinguished facilities.

Kaiser Permanente San Marcos Medical Center (LEED Platinum): Our third San Diego-area medical center opened in 2023 with LEED Platinum designation. We designed the facility to minimize its impact on the environment. As a result, the medical center has an annual energy savings equal to the energy needed to power 3,500 homes. Native plants and efficient irrigation systems save 400,000 gallons of water a month compared to traditional landscaping. And, indoor air quality at the facility is better because of low-emissions furniture, flooring, insulation, and other building materials.
Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center (LEED Double Platinum): The medical center opened in 2017 and in 2019 became the world’s first double LEED Platinum hospital. It achieved LEED certification for its initial construction and for its ongoing operations and maintenance. The hospital was designed with sustainability in mind and uses cutting-edge technologies to produce its own electricity, heat, and cooling; create less greenhouse emissions; and save water.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Offices (LEED Platinum): This all-electric medical facility was the first net-zero carbon emissions health care building in the U.S. when it opened in 2018. It gets enough power from its parking lot solar installation to generate the vast majority of the site’s energy from renewable resources.
Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Medical Offices (LEED Platinum): Recycled content and low-emitting materials were used to build the facility, which also features high-efficiency water, solar, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology. Additionally, the building helps promote interaction with the community — its 2.5-mile walking path, large grassy area, and outdoor exercise equipment are all open to the surrounding community.
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (LEED Gold): Daylight streams into the Pasadena, California, school through specially designed windows that minimize solar heat gain to reduce demand for air conditioning while creating conditions for good mental health. A high-tech control system allows more than 98% of the building’s energy and water use to be monitored for top efficiency.
Kaiser Permanente West Oahu Medical Office at Kapolei (LEED Gold): This was one of 15 Kaiser Permanente facilities certified as LEED in 2021. It includes a solar-plus-storage microgrid that allows the facility to operate solely on renewable energy almost every hour of every day.

“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health, and protect the environment,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. “By prioritizing sustainability, Kaiser Permanente is leading the way in the health care industry and helping U.S. Green Building Council continue toward our goal of green buildings for everyone within this generation.”

Kaiser Permanente was the first health care organization in the U.S. certified as carbon neutral. And we’ve prioritized sustainability for decades.

We know one way to improve the health of the people who live in the communities we serve is by improving the environmental conditions where they live.

Learn more about what Kaiser Permanente is doing to protect the environment.

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Air quality program expands with Kaiser Permanente grant

Tue, 7 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Climate change is already affecting our health

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Regulated waste settlement in California

Fri, 8 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Kaiser Permanente opens new medical center in San Marcos

Mon, 7 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Our support for the Inflation Reduction Act

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Wasting nothing: Recycling then and now

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Henry J. Kaiser’s environmental stewardship

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Northwest Region started small and grew fast

Tue, 8 Oct 2013 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Kaiser Permanente pioneered solar power in health facilities in 1980

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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Our long-standing commitment to sustainability

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:00:00 +0000

How Love My Air works

People can also access information from the new monitor and others around metro Denver through the free Love My Air mobile app.

Expanding to health clinics and beyond

The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment started the Love My Air program in 2018.

Kaiser Permanente has also supported other metro Denver governments in developing their own Love My Air programs.

Air quality information and health

Lung issues are a top concern on bad air quality days — particularly for people with asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or allergies.

Chris Fellenz, MD, director of safety-net partnerships for Kaiser Permanente in Colorado, said air quality information should be an important part of people’s healthy routines.

Dr. Fellenz recommends paying attention to mobile apps, websites, or Love My Air kiosks where available to make healthy decisions.

“On the days when I'm working, and there's poor air quality from a wildfire or from ozone, I don't go for my lunch walk,” he said. “Those are the days I would make a choice to stay inside.”

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