We speak with Anisa Heming and Corey Metzger of the U.S. Green Building Council and ASHRAE about a new report on schools’ efforts around the country to protect against COVID-19 by improving indoor air quality. Like so much else about schools, air quality comes down to resources, in this case, for infrastructure and maintenance. Also, there has been no central source of reliable information for district administrators. While COVID-19 has drawn our attention to air circulation and ventilation, there are other reasons to be concerned about air quality. Not only are there other airborne pathogens, but studies show that learning improves with better indoor air quality.
Overview
00:00-01:07 Intros
01:07-02:18 Center for Green Schools and ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Schools Team
02:18-03:39 “Preparation in the pandemic: How schools Implemented air quality measures to protect occupants from COVID-19”
03:39-05:07 Importance of air quality
05:07-08:28 Air quality and student performance; CO2, VOCs
08:28-18:57 ASHRAE’s and Center for Green Schools’ recommendations for air quality
18:57-23:59 Obstacles to improving air quality
23:59-25:58 Standards and code requirements
25:58-27:14 Impacts of building ages and funding
27:14-29:15 Structural inequities in funding—construction, renovation, and maintenance
29:15-32:33 Big cities and rural districts—common funding issues
32:33-35:12 Difficulties in obtaining information and guidance
35:12-36:45 Equity issues in the future
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
Photo by Allison Shelley of images.all4ed.org
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