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Wildfire Season Has Become a Business Risk Every Facility and CRE Leader Should Plan For in 2026

Wildfire season strains buildings and people. See how facilities can prepare in 2026 to reduce costs, protect tenants, and build resilience.

Ava Montini

Mar 11, 2026

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Wildfire smoke has moved from an environmental concern to a business risk for the built environment. One that affects operations, budgets, tenant trust, and even asset value. Smoke does not stay confined to forests. It drifts hundreds of kilometers into cities, infiltrates through HVAC intakes, window gaps, and loading docks, and turns buildings into frontline defense systems for the people inside them.


For facility managers, this shift reframes wildfire smoke as a predictable operational stress event, on par with a winter storm, a power outage, or a heat wave. For CRE executives, it reframes it as a reputational and financial challenge; one that determines tenant satisfaction, energy costs, and the long-term resilience of portfolios.


The Business Side of Smoke Days

When wildfire smoke drifts into a region, the strain on buildings is both immediate and multi-layered. Filters load faster, pushing fans to use more power just to keep airflow steady (EPA). As systems deviate, alarms trigger more frequently, and maintenance teams are pulled from planned tasks into reactive changeouts (Facility Executive). Meanwhile, vendors across the region see surging demand; parts and pads that usually arrive in days might take a week or more (NC State). That delay alone can unravel even the most rigorously planned preventive maintenance schedules.


Inside the building, occupants feel a different side of the same event. They note scratchy throats, irritated eyes, or rooms that feel stale or “heavier” when fresh air intake is reduced (AirNow). They see Air Quality Index alerts on their phones and news headlines escalating (EPA AQI). In those moments, the question is no longer just whether systems are responding, it’s: Is the building protecting me? When communication is missing or unclear, perception can trump technical measures, tipping the balance from confidence to complaints (BOMA).


Why It Matters More in 2026

The stakes are rising. Multiple studies show that during wildfire events, indoor air can reach one-third to three-quarters of outdoor particulate concentrations in buildings lacking robust mitigation (PMC). Residential buildings in fire-affected areas have shown infiltration ratios reflective of this risk (PMC). In some wildfire-impacted care environments, indoor concentrations have peaked near 200 µg/m³ (NCBI). In contrast, well-configured filtration systems often reduce that exposure to roughly 43% of outdoor levels, showing how effectively mitigation can work (NCCEH).


The human health impacts are significant. Fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) is linked to asthma flare-ups, reduced lung function, and cardiovascular stress (EPA). Sensitive populations (children, older adults, and those with pre-existing conditions) are most at risk (CDC). However, research also shows that even healthy adults are not immune to short-term exposure (PubMed). Harvard-led studies estimate that wildfire smoke has caused over 15,000 premature deaths in the U.S. in recent decades, with an associated economic burden of $160 billion (Harvard). For employers and property leaders, this translates into absenteeism, healthcare costs, and measurable productivity loss (National Bureau of Economic Research).


At the same time, smoke is a mechanical stressor. It accelerates filter clogging, pushes fans outside their normal operating range, and drives up energy consumption (ScienceDirect). Facility executives consistently report higher unplanned maintenance costs during wildfire season, along with shortened asset life for critical HVAC equipment (Facility Executive). Viewed at scale, these costs ripple upward into operational budgets and capital planning, making smoke days not just a maintenance issue but a financial liability.


What Smoke Events Do to Commercial HVAC Systems


Wildfire smoke can be seen as just “dirty air", but to get deeper, it is a dense mix of ultrafine particles, ash, organic compounds, and combustion byproducts that behave differently from typical urban pollution.


When these particles enter HVAC systems, three operational challenges occur simultaneously:


  • Rapid filter loading and front loading: Fine smoke particles quickly accumulate on the front face of filter media rather than distributing evenly through the depth of the filter. This “front loading” effect increases resistance to airflow much faster than normal particulate loading.

  • Fan energy increases: As pressure across the filter bank rises, fans must work harder to maintain airflow.

  • Airflow imbalance: Systems designed for stable pressure conditions may struggle to maintain balanced ventilation across zones.


During heavy smoke events, these mechanical effects can compound quickly. What begins as a minor filtration issue can cascade into comfort complaints, airflow deviations, and unexpected service calls.


Rethinking Preparedness

Preparedness today requires more than having spare filters in storage. Facilities that treat smoke season as part of their risk portfolio are proving more resilient. Research shows that buildings operating with lower baseline pressure drops have more headroom when smoke events occur, allowing systems to maintain airflow without tipping into alarm states (ScienceDirect). Forward-looking teams also map their most critical zones (like labs, classrooms, care units, or executive suites) and prioritize them during smoke events, an approach recommended in EPA guidance for schools and commercial buildings (EPA).


Another resilience factor is vendor readiness. Case studies after the 2020 smoke season showed that supply chain bottlenecks caused delays of days to weeks in replacing filters and components, leaving unprepared facilities exposed (NC State). Facilities that negotiated priority contracts in advance were able to maintain schedules even during regional demand surges. Similarly, using AQI forecasts and on-site PM₂.₅ sensors has been shown to improve response times; by acting early, facilities reduce exposure and minimize tenant complaints (PMC).


Wildfire readiness also intersects with broader sustainability and ESG commitments. Poor indoor air quality during smoke events undermines health-related certifications like WELL and LEED, while higher fan energy use increases a building’s carbon footprint (USGBC; IWBI). Integrating smoke resilience into ESG strategies provides measurable benefits for investors and stakeholders while demonstrating a proactive approach to tenant wellness.


Three Questions Facility Leaders Should Ask Before Smoke Season


Forward-looking facility teams increasingly treat wildfire smoke the same way they treat winter storms or heat waves: as a seasonal operational risk.


Before wildfire season begins, three questions can help identify vulnerabilities:


1. How much airflow headroom does the HVAC system have?

Buildings operating near maximum pressure limits may struggle when filters load rapidly during smoke events.


2. Are replacement filters and components secured in advance?

Regional smoke events often trigger sudden demand spikes, delaying shipments and increasing costs.


3. Are response protocols clearly defined?

Teams should know when to increase filtration, adjust outdoor air intake, and communicate with tenants.


Facilities that answer these questions early often respond faster and maintain better building performance during smoke days.


The Bottom Line

Facilities without strong preparedness can see indoor pollutant levels rise to 75% of outdoor concentrations during wildfire events, while prepared buildings cut that exposure nearly in half (NCCEH). Harvard-led analyses estimate that wildfire smoke causes tens of billions of dollars in annual economic damage, largely through absenteeism and healthcare costs (Harvard). From a mechanical standpoint, smoke accelerates filter clogging, forces fans to operate at higher energy use, and shortens asset lifespan, driving up costs across operations and capital planning (Facility Executive).


The buildings that are prepared today will reduce alarms, complaints, and unplanned expenses tomorrow, while earning the trust of the people inside. Tenants will remember which buildings felt steady, cared for, and resilient when the outside air was anything but.

What is Building Decarbonization?

  • Writer: Jennifer Crowley
    Jennifer Crowley
  • Jun 29, 2023
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jul 9, 2024

Aerial view of an industrial park leveraging solar power and vegetation grown to counteract carbon dioxide emissions from production within the building
Decarbonizing buildings can lead to numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, cost savings, and improved indoor air quality and occupant health.

Energy demand from buildings and building construction continues to rise, driven by improved access to energy in developing countries, growing demand for air conditioning in tropical countries, greater ownership and use of energy-consuming appliances, and rapid growth in global building floor area.


Decarbonizing buildings can lead to numerous benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, cost savings, and improved indoor air quality and occupant health. In this blog, we will explore what building decarbonization is, the importance of this term, its benefits, and the available resources to support decarbonization efforts.


What is Decarbonization?

Building decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change from a building’s energy sources. The buildings and buildings construction sectors combined are responsible for 30% of total global final energy consumption and 27% of total energy sector emissions. These emissions come from various sources within buildings, such as heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances.


Decarbonizing buildings involves shifting away from fossil fuel-based energy sources towards cleaner and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal. It also improves buildings’ energy efficiency to require less energy to operate. Energy-efficient buildings can be achieved through improvements in building envelope insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting upgrades, and other measures.


Building decarbonization is a critical strategy for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. As the global population continues to grow and urbanize, the number of buildings will also increase, making building decarbonization an increasingly important area of focus.


One of the key drivers of building decarbonization is the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet global climate targets. Buildings account for a significant portion of these emissions, and decarbonizing buildings is essential to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. Building decarbonization can also improve the quality of life for building occupants by creating healthier, more comfortable living and working spaces.


Building Emissions

Chart depicting Carbon sources and usage throughout its lifecycle along with ways to counteract usage
Implementing energy-efficient designs and technologies, such as passive solar heating, green roofs, & energy-efficient lighting/appliances, buildings can reduce their carbon footprint.

There are two main types of building emissions;

Operational carbon is the amount of carbon emitted during the operation of a building. This includes both energy and water-related emissions during the use of the building.


Embodied carbon is the amount of carbon emitted from the extraction of raw materials for the building to the building’s end of life, including refrigerant emissions. It is everything in the life of the building that is not covered by operational carbon.


Benefits of Building Decarbonization

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Buildings are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions. Building decarbonization can significantly reduce these emissions, helping mitigate climate change’s impacts. By implementing energy-efficient building designs and technologies, such as passive solar heating, green roofs, and energy-efficient lighting and appliances, buildings can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.


Cost Savings

Building decarbonization can also provide significant economic benefits. For example, implementing energy-efficient technologies and designs can reduce energy bills and operating costs for building owners and occupants. Building decarbonization can also create new job opportunities in industries such as renewable energy and energy-efficient building design and construction.


Health Benefits

Building decarbonization can also positively impact indoor air quality and occupant health. Building decarbonization can improve air quality and reduce exposure to pollutants by reducing energy consumption and promoting natural ventilation and daylighting. This can improve building occupants’ health outcomes, such as reduced asthma and allergy symptoms.


Decarbonization Resources

  1. The Building Decarbonization Coalition maintains a list and map of state and local decarbonization efforts in the United States.

  2. The Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard tracks provinces and territories.

  3. The Carbon Leadership Forum has created a Carbon Policy Toolkit.

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