COVER STORY— August 2017
10
cy and occupant health can suffer. You can read
an online flipbook version of the document at:
http://hi.iaq.net/i/844521-epa-energy-savings-
plus-health-guideline
The Work Will Be Done Over Summer Break
Many school districts have experienced first-hand
how poorly planned/managed renovation proj-
ects can become a nightmare. Construction dust,
chemical off-gassing, and excessive noise are
just a few of the potential problems that can be
created when that slated-for-summer-break con-
struction runs over into the start of the fall semes-
ter. This scenario happens far more often than
it should, and when it does, chaos often ensues.
Without specific planning and preparation to ad-
dress the containment of contaminants to workspac-
es, noise control, and other adverse factors, construc-
tion work during the school year may severely impact
students and staff. It only makes sense to prepare for
the inevitable project over-runs in advance, so a dis-
trict can minimize the impact when it happens. Main-
taining a healthy indoor environment for students and
staff needs to be a priority in that planning.
The Takeaway
With nearly 1/7 of our nation's population in PreK-12
facilities each year, the quality of the indoor environ-
ments in these buildings is paramount, especially
considering the added susceptibility of those young-
er populations. Better learning environments yield
better academic performance, as well as improving
the health of a significant portion of our population.
Learn more at:
https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools
and http://www.healthyschools.org
roofs, problems with heating,
ventilation and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems, and insuffi-
cient cleaning or excessive use
of cleaning chemicals can signifi-
cantly deteriorate a school's in-
door environment, which, in turn
can have a direct adverse effect
on student health and their aca-
demic performance.
Other maintenance issues
can trigger a host of health prob-
lems—including asthma and
allergies—that increase absen-
teeism and reduce academic
performance. Research links key
environmental factors to health
outcomes and students' ability to
perform. Improvements in school
environmental quality can enhance academic perfor-
mance, as well as teacher and staff productivity and
retention. Check out the EPA Quick Reference Guide
for Student Health and Academic Performance
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/20148/
documents/student_performance_findings.pdf
Making It Better
EPA has published a 120-page document titled, "En-
ergy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guide-
lines for School Building Upgrades," which goes into
many of the important aspects of ensuring that school
renovations offer positive benefits to the occupants.
This document describes the opportunities such
undertakings present to reduce energy costs and
improve student health by addressing 23 specific
priority issues and contaminants commonly associ-
ated with building upgrades.
Considering both energy management and
protection of IAQ together during construction
and energy upgrade tasks can improve school
facility management. When energy efficiency
and IAQ protection goals are integrated and ad-
dressed during project planning, scheduling and
execution, schools can achieve strong results in
both areas and reduce costs. Alternatively, if care-
ful attention is not paid to the interaction between
energy management and IAQ, building efficien-
