From driving hybrid vehicles to planting trees, being “green” is a key interest for many Americans.

Yet the air indoors, where Americans spend 90 percent of their time, actually can be up to 10 times more polluted than the air outdoors, according to the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency.

Such contaminants as pollen, mold spores, dirt, dust and other allergens can come from items as simple as household cleaning products to complex building materials and outdoor pollution. These allergens can have a major impact on health and wellness, including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue, as well as more serious problems like asthma.

In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that allergies affect as many as 57 million people in the United States. But ways exist to effectively remove many potentially harmful airborne particles and improve overall air quality throughout the home. Eliminating or controlling sources of pollutants and improving ventilation to reduce humidity levels are simple ways to increase indoor air quality and deter mold growth.

A little research goes a long way in selecting an in-home purification system.

Many only capture particles, which can allow them to continue to thrive and multiply. However, one of the most effective ways to remove airborne particles is to invest in a high-quality, air-purifying unit that treats 100 percent of a heating and cooling system’s airflow, which actually kills everything it catches.