Physical Place:

Indoor Environmental Quality

START Metric #36:

Indoor Air Quality

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Ideas & Resources

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential for creating a healthy and comfortable learning environment. This START metric focuses on controlling airborne pollutants, ensuring adequate ventilation, and maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels. Effective IAQ management reduces exposure to allergens, pollutants, and pathogens, improving overall well-being and academic performance for students and staff.

The EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be 2-5 times worse than outdoor air due to the buildup of pollutants (EPA). Poor IAQ is associated with increased rates of respiratory issues, absenteeism, and diminished cognitive function. Schools, as high-occupancy spaces, must prioritize air quality to safeguard the health of their communities while enhancing comfort and productivity.

Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality

NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.

  • Upgrade Ventilation and Filtration Systems

    • Install or upgrade HVAC systems with high-efficiency filters (e.g., HEPA filters) to capture airborne pollutants.

    • Regularly clean and maintain ventilation systems to ensure optimal performance.

  • Increase Outdoor Air Circulation

    • Adjust ventilation systems to increase the intake of outdoor air while maintaining energy efficiency.

    • Open windows or doors during favorable weather conditions to enhance natural ventilation.

  • Control Temperature and Humidity Levels

    • Maintain indoor temperatures within a comfortable range (typically 68–75°F or 20–24°C).

    • Use dehumidifiers or humidifiers to keep relative humidity levels between 30-50% to reduce mold growth and respiratory discomfort.

  • Monitor Air Quality

    • Install indoor air quality monitors to measure levels of carbon dioxide, particulate matter, and other pollutants.

    • Use data to identify problem areas and implement targeted solutions.

  • Reduce Indoor Pollutant Sources

    • Choose low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, adhesives, and cleaning products.

    • Eliminate or minimize the use of synthetic fragrances and other irritants in school supplies and cleaning products.

  • Establish Routine Maintenance Programs

    • Regularly inspect and maintain HVAC systems, filters, and ductwork.

    • Address water leaks or moisture issues promptly to prevent mold and mildew growth.

  • Incorporate Green Plants

    • Introduce indoor plants that can help improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

    • Ensure plants are non-toxic and well-maintained to avoid becoming a source of allergens.

  • Minimize Dust and Allergens

    • Implement regular cleaning schedules to reduce dust, pet dander, and other allergens.

    • Use high-efficiency vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters.

  • Create an IAQ Management Plan

    • Develop a comprehensive plan to identify, monitor, and address IAQ issues.

    • Involve staff and students in reporting IAQ concerns to ensure timely intervention.

  • Engage the School Community

    • Educate students and staff about the importance of IAQ and their role in maintaining it.

    • Encourage practices like proper storage of materials and timely reporting of maintenance issues.

  • Optimize Building Design and Renovations

    • Use sustainable building materials and designs that prioritize ventilation and air quality in new constructions or renovations.

    • Incorporate features like operable windows and advanced filtration systems into the design.

‘How To’ Guides

  • Healthy, Green Purchasing for Asthma Prevention

    From the US Center for Green Schools, a guide to help schools & districts introduce and implement health-informed purchasing practices into school policy.

  • 5 Step Guide to Check Ventilation Rates in Classrooms

    From Harvard, learn how to improve ventilation through 5 steps: measure the classroom dimensions, perform preliminary checks, measure outdoor ventilation rates, compare results and consider strategies.

  • How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

    Created by a GSA student intern, this guide includes steps and resources to improve indoor air quality, including easy-to-access links from the EPA.

  • Indoor Air Quality and IPM Guide

    From Missouri Green Schools, step-by-step guidance for creating healthier learning environments through Integrated Pest Management, including additional resource links.

Additional Resources

  • Case Study: Districts Switch to Green Cleaning Products

    From RAMP, success stories from three California school districts who made the switch to green cleaning and improved air quality.

  • IAQ Factsheet: Germicidal Ultraviolet

    From US Center for Green Schools, an explainer of how germicidal ultraviolet can be used as an effective non-chemical method to disinfect surfaces.

  • EPA Ventilation Checklist

    Facilities and maintenance staff can use this checklist to help examine outdoor air intakes; system cleanliness, outdoor air supplies, air distribution, exhaust systems, & quantity of outdoor air.

Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.

They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.

Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.

But how do we get there?

START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.

START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:

It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.

However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.

Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.

How sustainable is our school now?

Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success? 

What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric?  Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.

START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.

It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.

Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.

Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.

Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.

Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.