20 Most Oxygen Friendly Cities in the US

Aliza Zia

Thu, Nov 23, 2023, 6:45 AM11 min read

In this article:

In this article, we will be looking at the 20 most oxygen-friendly cities in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 Most Oxygen Friendly Cities in the US.

Clean air is vital for our survival, health and longevity. Air quality has been declining across the globe due to heavy industries, lack of government regulations, increasing use of personal vehicles, and the absence of proper air quality control systems. Lower air quality can cause long-term health issues and compromise visibility and mobility in the area.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2022, a staggering 66 million tons of pollution was added into the atmosphere in the US alone. The overall quality of air, however, has improved in the United States over the past few decades. A decline of 73% has been recorded in the emission of major air pollutants between 1980 and 2022. The state and federal imposed regulations have been the major contributor to this decline.

On July 22, Nature published an article noting that 7.3 billion people across the globe are exposed to harmful levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). 80% of people who are impacted by air pollution reside in middle-income or lower-income countries. Underdeveloped or developing economies usually rely on polluting industries, compromising their people's health. Regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and cities like Lahore in Pakistan and Dehli in India are some of the worst impacted places by air pollution. You can also check out: 30 Most Air Polluted Countries in the World.

Enhancing Air Quality: Government Strategies for Breathable Air

Governments can play a central role in ensuring breathability. Governments worldwide are taking initiatives to enhance air quality through grants and regulations. On November 22, Reuters reported that the Biden administration announced $2 billion in Community Change Grants to help the lower income communities. The lower-income communities are the most impacted by poor air quality as they usually reside in compromised and cheaper areas. The grants will help them build resilience to tackle climate change issues and monitor the air and water quality. The dedicated funds are to be fully utilized by November 2024.

New Dehli is one of the cities in the world with the worst air quality. The city has witnessed an astounding amount of smog and pollution post-Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights. On November 6, Reuters reported that the city will restrict the use of vehicles as visibility levels have declined. The government plans to impose an "odd-even" vehicle rule, allowing vehicles with even registration numbers on even dates and similarly for odd numbers. This rule had also been imposed in the past, providing a temporary solution to a long-term problem.

Air Quality Control Industry: An Overview

Many companies manufacture technologies and systems to improve, monitor, and control air quality. The air quality control industry is growing rapidly. According to a report by Acumen Research and Consulting, the size of the air quality control systems market was $101.0 billion in 2022. The market is poised to reach $157.5 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The increasing concerns about air quality and strict government regulations to control emissions are fueling the market's growth.

The Asia Pacific region has the largest share of the air quality control market. The rising awareness regarding climate issues has hiked the demand for environmentally friendly products. North America is one of the fastest-growing air quality control markets. The strict government regulations have prompted increased demand for technologies and systems to monitor emissions and air quality.

Air quality control systems are no longer limited to large outdoor industrial units. The systems are becoming more compact with technological advancements. These more compact systems are cheaper and easier to use. Therefore, the demand for indoor air quality control systems is growing.

Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of the most notable products for monitoring air quality indoors. Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor enables users to monitor the carbon monoxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) levels in the air. The device can be connected with Alexa as well. The device provides real-time data, allowing users to adjust accordingly.

Major Players Shaping the Industry

Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE:JCI) provides technology and equipment for buildings. The company also offers a variety of air quality control systems and products. OpenBlue Indoor Air Quality as a Service by Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE:JCI) enables users to maintain healthy indoor air quality (IAQ). The service is also cost-effective and employs the latest OpenBlue technology.

On October 2, Johnson Controls International PLC (NYSE:JCI) announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC). The memorandum will facilitate the schools in the UAE to improve their spaces by integrating the IAQ services by the company. EmiratesGBC will work with the company to advance research and development of IAQ assessment.

Fuel Tech Inc. (NASDAQ:FTEK) is another major player in the industry. The company is renowned for its products, like NOx control systems, that can help reduce emissions by 30% to 80%. On November 6, Fuel Tech Inc. (NASDAQ:FTEK) announced signing multiple air pollution control (APC) contracts with new and existing customers valued at approximately $2.6 million. Fuel Tech Inc. (NASDAQ:FTEK) will provide these customers in the US and South Africa with the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) systems. These contracts are set to benefit a diverse range of end markets.

CECO Environmental Corp. (NASDAQ:CECO) is another giant in the air quality control industry. The company has installed more than 32,000 air pollution control systems. These systems collectively are eliminating more than 4.4 billion pounds of pollutants annually. On November 7, CECO Environmental Corp. (NASDAQ:CECO) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2023. CECO Environmental Corp. (NASDAQ:CECO) reported an EPS of $0.22, beating estimates by $0.03. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 37.8% and amounted to $149.38 million, ahead of market consensus by $16.59 million. As of November 23, the company's stock has surged nearly 63.87% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's CEO on the third-quarter earnings:

"Our third quarter results reflect the strong execution our global teams continue to demonstrate as we solve our diverse customers' critical needs in industrial air, industrial water, and the energy transition. We delivered several impressive records including the highest revenue, gross profit, and cash flow dollars of any quarter in the company's history. I want to thank the team for successfully completing the acquisition of Kemco Systems in the quarter, which is an excellent addition to the leadership position we continue to build in the industrial water markets. Our teams continue to work through supply chain challenges and negative mix, which impacted our gross margins in the quarter, but adjusted EBITDA margin expansion was up over 150 basis points versus the prior year. We closed the quarter with a record $394 million in backlog, setting us up for a strong finish to 2023 and a great start to 2024."

Good air quality control systems help improve the air quality we breathe. The systems also enable industries to meet government regulations. Many cities around the globe have good-quality air due to factors including low traffic rates, small populations, and abundant nature. These cities are attractive spots for visiting or even settling permanently. Let's now take a look at the most oxygen-friendly cities in the US. You can also check out the 30 Most Polluted States in the US.

20 Most Oxygen Friendly Cities in the US

Our Methodology

To make our list of the most oxygen-friendly cities in the US, we hypothesized that the cities with better air quality would also have more oxygen. We subsequently confirmed this hypothesis from a study mentioned on the NIH website. The research conducted in 2015 suggests that non-traffic particle exposure is linked to decreased oxygen saturation. We have used the IQAir index for our ranking. The index mentioned the annual average PM2.5 concentration of cities.

The lower average PM2.5 concentration corresponds to better oxygen levels. The list has been arranged in descending order of the average PM2.5 concentration. According to the WHO guidelines, the annual average PM2.5 concentration should be 0-5.

20 Most Oxygen Friendly Cities in the US

20. Sierra Vista

Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration In 2022 (μg/m³): 1.5

Sierra Vista is a city located in Arizona. The city is known for its tranquil environment and natural beauty. It is one of the most oxygen-friendly cities in the US. In 2022, Sierra Vista had an average PM2.5 concentration of 1.5μg/m³.