Excellent post, and great work on the research report!
From a narrative perspective I think the analogy between Clean Water and Clean Air is great. However, I’m wondering if from a R&D and implementation perspective a more fitting analogy would be clean cooking fuel, heating or solar power (which you do mention). Clean water systems need large investment in infrastructure and government implementation upfront, as much as they need more technological advancement, since Clean Water is a public good. Indoor Clean Air, or at least the solutions you described above, don’t need large infrastructure or government investment. The quality of the air in my house or office is a private good. The private market can develop the R&D and market directly to consumers, without the need for the government to step in, as long as there’s consumer interest.
The fact that the TOC for Clean Air Indoors doesn’t need to go through government makes me more optimistic about success (although of course if there are government standards and gov R&D spending, it will go faster).
On the other hand, perhaps Indoor Clean Air is more similar to lead paint regulation, where the individual consumer isn’t aware enough of the dangers and benefits, even though theoretically it’s more lucrative to sell safe paint than poisonous paint.
Excellent post, and great work on the research report!
From a narrative perspective I think the analogy between Clean Water and Clean Air is great. However, I’m wondering if from a R&D and implementation perspective a more fitting analogy would be clean cooking fuel, heating or solar power (which you do mention). Clean water systems need large investment in infrastructure and government implementation upfront, as much as they need more technological advancement, since Clean Water is a public good. Indoor Clean Air, or at least the solutions you described above, don’t need large infrastructure or government investment. The quality of the air in my house or office is a private good. The private market can develop the R&D and market directly to consumers, without the need for the government to step in, as long as there’s consumer interest.
The fact that the TOC for Clean Air Indoors doesn’t need to go through government makes me more optimistic about success (although of course if there are government standards and gov R&D spending, it will go faster).
On the other hand, perhaps Indoor Clean Air is more similar to lead paint regulation, where the individual consumer isn’t aware enough of the dangers and benefits, even though theoretically it’s more lucrative to sell safe paint than poisonous paint.