The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council released a new report detailing how school districts around the country have managed air quality within their buildings during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report, Managing Air Quality in the Pandemic: How K-12 Schools Addressed Air Quality in the Second Year of COVID-19, says that the chief obstacle for schools in implementing many recommended indoor air quality (IAQ) measures is that buildings’ HVAC systems were not designed to implement recommendations for improvement. Specific challenges were not found to be associated with any particular school district characteristics studied, such as demographics, locale or size, the study says.
During the past year, schools prioritized increasing outdoor air intake by whatever means were available to them. Just over half of school districts reported that they felt they had access to funding to support additional indoor air quality-related building improvements.
Non-urban districts were more likely to lean on state and local guidance, while urban districts were more likely to use federal-level guidance and guidance from national organizations like ASHRAE. Over a quarter of districts responded that there were no new plans to implement additional ventilation, filtration, or other building changes in schools.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | Mar 16, 2020
Effective remote workforce: Key steps and strategies for success
As the potential scope of the COVID-19 outbreak has become more clear in the United States and Canada, public and private organizations from all industries, sectors and geographies are encouraging their teams to work remotely to reduce the spread of the virus.
Coronavirus | Mar 16, 2020
Coronavirus and the water cycle—here is what treatment professionals need to know
As the global health community tracks the spread of this virus, it’s important for water and wastewater professionals to keep updated on potential impacts.
Coronavirus | Mar 15, 2020
Designing office building lobbies to respond to the coronavirus
Touch-free design solutions and air purifiers can enhance workplace wellness.
Coronavirus | Mar 15, 2020
In the face of the coronavirus, workplace wellness is key
Here are a few considerations employers should keep in mind in creating plans for a healthy and effective work environment.
Coronavirus | Mar 13, 2020
AEC business impacts from COVID-19: We want your input!
The BD+C editors would like to hear from you on how your firm is handling business operations and projects during the coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus | Mar 13, 2020
COVID-19 and real estate: How the coronavirus is impacting the AEC industry
Here's the latest news BD+C editors are tracking on COVID-19's impact on the AEC industry and the real estate market.
Coronavirus | Mar 11, 2020
A look at how U.S. hospitals are designed to battle infectious diseases like coronavirus
Some health systems can use telehealth and video visits to asses and triage patients before they arrive at a hospital.