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Strong organization and promotion are essential to developing
a comprehensive IAQ management program. As outlined in the Framework
for Effective School IAQ Management: Key Drivers, one of the most significant aspects of
organizing an IAQ management program is securing senior buy-in from leaders
in the school community. To secure buy-in and gain support from
administrators, school officials, parents and others, it’s important to
promote the work and actions you take each and every day to create a healthy
indoor environment. Securing commitments from school leaders provides you
with the support you need to meet your school district’s IAQ management
goals.
Through your promotion efforts, you will also be able to garner support in order to develop an inclusive and effective IAQ team that reflects the school community and district.
Want more tips on securing buy-in from school leaders?
Check out the 5 talking points below that can help you develop a common understanding of what green and healthy school environments mean — and why it takes everyone in the school community to get on board.
Now that you know why it’s important to promote your IAQ
management program, talk to members of your school community — including key
decision makers — about the importance of IAQ management. When reaching out
to school officials, administrators, parents and others, use the five talking
points below to convey the significance of good IAQ in creating healthy
learning environments.
1.
IAQ Affects Student
and Staff Health. Leaky roofs;
problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; insufficient
cleaning or excessive use of toxic cleaning chemicals; and other
environmental issues can lead to poor IAQ and can trigger health problems
like respiratory infections, asthma, allergies and other adverse health
reactions.
2. Children are More Vulnerable to Environmental Hazards than Adults. Children are inherently more vulnerable to environmental hazards because their physiology is still developing. For example, children's breathing rates relative to their body mass are four to six times greater than adults' breathing rates, often making children far more susceptible to illnesses due to airborne contaminants. 3. IAQ Affects Student and Staff Productivity and Achievement. Research shows that a school's physical environment can affect academic performance. IAQ improvements, such as increasing fresh air ventilation and removing the source pollutants, can have positive effects on both student and teacher productivity. Students in classrooms with higher fresh air ventilation rates tend to achieve higher scores on standardized tests in math and reading than students in poorly ventilated classrooms. 4. The Price of Repairs and Renovations May be High, but the Price of Preventative Practices Is Not. School districts can undertake no-cost and low-cost activities that safeguard the school environment and achieve significant health and performance improvements. School districts with proactive facility maintenance programs have demonstrated a strong business case for coordinating activities that both improve the physical environment and student health, in an integrated program focused on improved academic achievement. 5. Good IAQ Practices Can Help Schools Save Money. The money that schools save from energy-performance upgrades and retrofits can be used towards additional building improvements. In addition to improving occupant health and performance, regular heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance saves energy. ENERGY STAR qualified buildings have demonstrated that well-maintained HVAC systems of average efficiency save more energy than high-efficiency HVAC systems that are poorly maintained. Well-maintained systems reduce energy use by an average of 15 to 20 percent.
Get Answers to Your Questions
Is there a topic you want to see covered in an IAQ Tools for Schools Connector e-newsletter? Do you have suggestions for a webinar or e-newsletter feature, or do you have questions about a specific IAQ topic? If so, send us an email at IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com. Share YOUR news and events! Send us information to share with the school IAQ community. It could be featured in the next Connector e-newsletter. Email your news and events to IAQTfSConnector@cadmusgroup.com. The IAQ Tools for Schools guidance is a comprehensive resource designed to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting and preventing IAQ problems. Learn more about the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools. |
Friday, May 4, 2012
Top 5 Talking Points for Obtaining Buy-in: The IAQ Tools for Schools Connector E-Newsletter
School Pest News Webinar Announcements
School Pest News Announcements The beauty of the webinar is that you can attend "live" or view at a later date. This email has upcoming webinars and links to webinars that happened in April.
Ants driving you crazy? If they are,
there are two webinar opportunities to learn about ant management in
May. The first is on Thursday, May 10 and is all about fire ants.
The next is the following Thursday, May 17 and covers pharaoh, carpenter and
odorous house ants. Join us and learn how to manage these pests before
they become a problem this summer.
Educational
programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people
without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
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Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May 1st - World Asthma Day
May 1st is World Asthma Day and the start of Asthma Awareness Month. Asthma is a serious chronic respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for almost 25 million Americans, including an estimated 7 million children. We at the EPA have the chance to promote a better understanding of asthma and that the cleaner our air, both indoors and out, the easier it will be to manage this disease.
The EPA plays an important role in helping to reduce environmental irritants such as smog, smoke and chemicals in the air that affect our health and trigger asthma attacks. The Clean Air Act has provided numerous health benefits, including the prevention of millions of asthma attacks per year. Across the country, those outside the agency also play an important role. This year, EPA honors four healthcare program winners from Connecticut, California, Michigan and North Carolina for their outstanding efforts to improve the lives of people with asthma in under-served communities. I encourage you to read more about the excellent work they are doing.
Messages to Remember In May:
· Asthma is controllable. Create an asthma plan and know your
asthma triggers.
· Take action to avoid those triggers.
· Get Active: Even though you have asthma you can still participate in activities.
· Be 'Air Aware' during Air Quality Awareness Week (4/30-5/4): Poor air quality can affect asthma, so download the Air Quality Index mobile app to check how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.
· Take action to avoid those triggers.
· Get Active: Even though you have asthma you can still participate in activities.
· Be 'Air Aware' during Air Quality Awareness Week (4/30-5/4): Poor air quality can affect asthma, so download the Air Quality Index mobile app to check how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.
Please take a moment to visit EPA’s Asthma Awareness Month website for a list of resources and how you can promote breathing easier, and living better. Thank you for your hard work to provide cleaner air and steadfast resources to prevent asthma in communities across the United States. For more information about asthma please visit epa.gov/asthma.
Healthy Schools: $20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines and improving air quality and Americans' health. In addition to these grants, approximately $9 million will be available through direct state allocations. EPA estimates that for every $1 spent on clean diesel funding up to $13 of public health benefit is realized.
"Technology has evolved to make diesel engines more efficient and cleaner than ever," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "These grants enable owners of older diesel vehicles to make investments that modernize their vehicles while making the air in their communities cleaner and healthier to breathe."
Projects can reduce air pollution from older school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and other diesel engines. The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 4, 2012. States, tribes, local governments, and non-profits are eligible to apply for these grants.
Request for Proposals forms and related documents: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm.
April School IPM 2015 eNewsletter
The April School IPM 2015 eNewsletter features the following
articles: Bed Bugs and Book Bags Teaches Kids Valuable Lessons, The
IPM Minute Videos Show the Basics, and New York City Department of
Education Renews IPM STAR Certification.
If you have not done so already, please consider signing up
for the monthly School IPM
2015 newsletter mailing list to:
·
Learn how you can reduce pesticide use and
pest complaints by more than 70%!
·
Create a successful IPM program with no
long-term increase in pest management costs.
·
Learn strategies for managing pests all
year:
o Fall
– stinging insects
o Spring
– ants
o New
pests – bed bugs
· Improve your ability to educate and gain cooperation
from key staff including maintenance, custodial and food service.
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