The Biden Administration’s proposed infrastructure spending plan is a rare chance for most school districts to make their buildings greener and cheaper to operate.
This is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to make major upgrades to public school facilities, according to an engineer specializing in green buildings. For example, an estimated 36,000 schools have ventilation systems in need of upgrades. Many of these systems use technology invented and designed in the 1970s, and they are far less than ideal from health and wellness perspectives. They also do not support aggressive carbon reduction and energy-efficiency goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a closer look at the physical condition of America’s classrooms. It may prompt the federal government to address the shortcomings.
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which would make $130 billion in federal money available to schools in need of repair over the next decade. The lead sponsor says funding is badly needed because without it, school districts would be largely on their own to build and renovate buildings.
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| Apr 16, 2013
RMJM acquired by Duthus Investments for £12 million
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| Apr 10, 2013
ASHRAE publishes second edition to HVAC manual for healthcare facilities
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| Apr 10, 2013
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute accredited by ANSI as standards developer
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DOD should continue LEED-Silver or equivalent rating standard, says NRC
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| Apr 10, 2013
EPA proposes emissions rules affecting light construction vehicles
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| Apr 10, 2013
New skyscraper designs raising the bar on green standards
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| Apr 5, 2013
Lack of national standards on design of bioterror labs creates higher risk for accidents, panel says
U.S. labs that conduct research on bioterror germs such as anthrax are at risk for accidents because they do not have uniform design and operation standards, according to a Congressional investigative group.
