What is INDEX and what is its mission?
INDEX is a 501(c)(3) launched in 2025 whose Mission is to manage or reduce indoor exposures to protect public health. INDEX aims to be THE source for improving indoor spaces through science.
The term “manage” is used plus “reduce” since we want to increase positive exposures to healthful elements including broad-spectrum light, clean air / water, etc., plus track both positive and negative exposures using individual indices such as IAQ, bioload levels, ergonomics and more—thus foster a 360-approach and ultimately a rating system to improve indoor environments.
Our audience includes professional facility managers in a range of facility-types, workers and the general public seeking help to better manage their indoor spaces for health.
How will INDEX fulfill its Mission?
Broadly, INDEX will be accessible to people when and how they are looking for information. This means:
- Providing information via a website, optimizing the site for SEO and optimizing its Ad Grant from Google in tandem with SEO.
- Providing Free Online Assessments after site visitors complete an “intake” form on their topic of concern.
- Providing Free Zoom and Phone Meetings to better understand their needs, then directing them to online and other resources.
- Using its YouTube Grant to provide information and inspiration through video including “human” stories in which people share their compelling journeys (e.g., before and after).
Specifically, INDEX will establish its authority by:
- Developing the INDEX Science Center and the Science to Solutions (S2S) Program (see S2S Overview) to include experts from a range of disciplines who will serve on committees and councils, such as the Bioload Exposure Metric Index (BEMI) Development Council (BDC) and in specific workgroups.
- Answering specific deep questions related to markets (see sample consulting questions related to BEMI in healthcare).
How will INDEX be funded?
- Through Voluntary Donations driven by earning the public trust and support by staying true to the INDEX Mission.
- Corporate and Other Membership dues contingent on these memberships not compromising or diluting the INDEX Mission.
Since scraping content from the web is how AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini provide information overviews, how will INDEX use AI?
- Deep content from the INDEX Science Center and S2S Program will be a source for AI summaries.
- Since AI citations are the new backlinks: i.e., instead of just ranking #1 on Google, INDEX’s goal is to be the cited source in an AI overview.
How will INDEX promote indoor sensor technology?
- The Indoor Exposure Index (INDEX) and its Indoor Health Council sit at the nexus of two trends: the “sensor-fication” of buildings and the public’s demand for simplified but accurate health data.
- Because AI models are excellent at summarizing generic science but struggle with real-time application and localized validation, INDEX’s content strategy will focus on being the “Last Mile” of trust by recommending the use of indoor sensors and measurement devices to enable real-time or active tracking of indices such as IAQ and BEMI, and especially by encouraging adoption of the “LOVE” Index (Localized Verified Exposure).
What does the future of INDEX look like?
- INDEX may sublicense or license programs such as Integrated Cleaning and Measurement (ICM) or Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) at the facility level, and or certify people at the facility or individual level.
- INDEX may license its rating system at the facility or product level.
- INDEX may develop a “Daily Indoor Risk Report” format by scraping user-permitted sensor data to answer user queries like, “Is it safe to exercise indoors today given the local IAQ levels?” or “Is my facility air quality healthful based on PM2.5 and Total VOCs?”
- INDEX is developing a framework for healthier automobile interiors, a project housed under the INDEX Science to Solutions (aka, science center program).