Room: D137-138

Audience: Architects, Engineers, Specialized Consultants, Facilities Personnel, Educators, School Administrators, Educational Policymakers, Community Stakeholders with a Particular Focus on Facility Management

Call to Action: 

1. Use the strategies learned to collaborate, partner with, and gain knowledge from diverse school leaders and stakeholders to promote, maintain, and advance your commitment to healthy learning environments.
2. Apply tools and techniques to assess IAQ, energy efficiency, and climate resiliency in your school and district facilities.
3. Develop and implement comprehensive IAQ management plans and programs.

Abstract: Now is the perfect time to take action on indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and school districts. With the rise in wildfire smoke events and other climate disasters, along with the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s school communities are recognizing how indoor air can have significant effects on health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a robust selection of technical assistance resources, networking groups, on-demand training webinars, and more for schools and school districts to implement effective IAQ management programs in their facilities. In this session, you will learn not only the benefits of effective IAQ management but also how to extend your collaborative reach and advance your commitment to healthy indoor school environments by connecting with powerful EPA-funded partners. Collaboration, partnership, and unity among diverse stakeholders are key to ensuring a healthy and optimal learning environment. These factors continue to be central components in EPA’s efforts and commitment to healthy IAQ in schools. The recent Inflation Reduction Act funding is set to transform the way schools and school districts approach IAQ. Join EPA in this session to learn how to connect and share knowledge with the newly funded Inflation Reduction Act grantees and learn how EPA’s resources and network can help promote IAQ action in your school and school district facilities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the importance of healthy learning environments in schools and how indoor air quality plays a role in student and staff health and safety.
2. Gain strategies to collaborate, partner with, and gain knowledge from diverse school leaders and stakeholders to promote, maintain, and advance your commitment to healthy learning environments.
3. Identify tools and techniques to assess IAQ, energy efficiency, and climate resiliency in their school and district facilities.
4. Learn how to develop and implement comprehensive IAQ management plans and programs.