The Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network (Chi-CARN) creates free and low-cost access to clean indoor air resources in Chicago. We build community resilience for air quality emergencies, such as wildfire smoke and airborne pathogen transmission, through our lending partnership with Windy City ToolBank for clean air-related equipment, supplies, and PPE.

Chi-CARN is a coalition led by Air Support Project (ASP) and co-founded with Public Health Action Network (PHAN), SOS, and Windy City ToolBank - 501(c)(3) organizations who care about increasing community access to clean air tools.

Read more about Chi-CARN here.

Our Project Launch

Chi-CARN is a summer grassroots effort addressing air quality affected by wildfire smoke, storms, tornados, and respiratory illness outbreaks. Much of our inventory comes through pre-existing, in-kind donor relationships with ToolBank USA and Public Health Action Network. Financial support allows Chi-CARN to scale by:

Purchasing clean air equipment
Shipping and transporting equipment
Tech platform development and integration
Insurance fees, warehouse maintenance, and other overhead expenses

The Problems We Solve

Poor air quality is a worsening problem in Chicago, with airborne particulate pollution, industrial and automotive emissions, and respiratory illnesses being linked to numerous chronic health issues. Indoor air quality (IAQ) can be 3-5 times worse than outdoor, especially in old or poorly-ventilated buildings. We breathe about 11,000 liters of air per day, and with people spending 90% of their time indoors, the majority of exposure to air pollution happens indoors!

Climate-related events, such as wildfire smoke, floods, and tornados create additional hazardous air in Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. The 2026 wildfire smoke season is predicted to be especially severe, and Illinois has had more tornadoes this year than any other state. Tools to improve IAQ are often overlooked in situations where they are the most beneficial. Our partnership with Windy City Toolbank allows Chicago nonprofits and community organizations to access essential equipment and supplies, without the additional overhead of purchasing, storage, and maintenance.

Chi-CARN’s mission assists in:

Preparedness and Recovery: Weather and climate events can dramatically impact air quality. Borrowing our equipment before a climate event, or using it to help clean-up, protects indoor air without the hassle of buying new equipment.
Building Construction: Pollutants can be released into the air during building construction and maintenance. Air purifiers, particle monitors, and masking can help protect your clients and staff.
Building Safety: Invisible health risks - including mold, radon, asbestos, VOCs, and chemical exposure - can spread in older or poorly maintained buildings. Borrowing tests and sensors from Chi-CARN helps identify potential concerns and make informed decisions for healthier indoor spaces.
Mission Support: Preventable illness can hamper community service missions. In-person events become more accessible with the addition of air purifiers, high-quality masks, far UVC, and COVID & flu testing.

Our Equipment

Chicago-area nonprofits or mission-driven community organizations can access the following equipment at the Windy City ToolBank's Pilsen warehouse.

Durable Hardware

High-CADR air purifiers
Air quality sensors (PM2.5, TVOCs, CO2, formaldehyde and radon)
PortaCount fit testing machines
Far UVC lights
Air scrubbers and dehumidifiers
Vacuums with HEPA filters
Molecular testing platforms (ie. PlusLife, Metrix)

Consumables

N95 and KN95 respirators
Rapid tests (COVID, influenza, RSV)
Fit testing kits
Mold and radon tests

Future Directions

Chi-CARN plans to establish a scalable, community-driven model for national preparedness and resilience to air quality challenges.

Our five year plan includes:

Lending Library: Expand our lending locations for portable equipment to local neighborhood sites, such as Chicago Public Library branches.
Clean Air Spaces: Strengthening the capacity of trusted community organizations, such as the YMCA, to serve as clean air refuge centers during air quality emergencies.
Community Builds: Hosting and providing resources for community events, such as DIY air purifier builds and mask fitting events.
Classroom Rentals: Offering year-long air purifier rentals to Chicago public school teachers.
Expansion: The success of Chi-CARN will inspire replication in other cities, particularly those with existing ToolBank Affiliates.

Thank You For Your Support

Our coalition is honored to serve the Chicago community. The pilot is being launched in multiple YMCA locations, with plans to include the Chicago Parks District and Chicago Public Library. We look forward to expanding this project in collaboration with partners and neighbors who care about clean air access for everyone in Chicago.

Get Involved

Connect with us: chicagocarn@gmail.com

Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network (C-CARN)

Don't Let Bad Air Stop Your Mission