Environmental Quality
Many factors contribute to poor environmental quality on campuses. This is a concern because of the detrimental effects environmental hazards have on both the health and education of the students and staff. Issues with HVAC systems, transportation, ventilation, mold and sanitation techniques all affect the health of the school.
Proper school maintenance and inspection are essential in creating healthy schools.
Natural ventilation. Proper ventilation of classrooms and other indoor areas will help remove airborne compounds that remain stagnant and threatening.
Maintenance and repair of HVAC systems. Collection of dust and other airborne particulates in your school's ventilation system can be spread throughout the campus just by turning on the system. Cleaning, fixing leaks, repairing damage and scheduling regular inspections will prevent such problems.
Mold prevention. Campus-wide inspections of water fixtures and the areas around them are necessary to prevent mold and mildew concerns. Leaks and other damages to fixtures and appliances must be repaired as soon as possible to prevent spores from developing. Mold and mildew exposure can lead to allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Proper sanitation. Indoor spaces in particular must be kept in the best sanitary condition. Daily cleaning with products made of all-natural ingredients is imperative to eliminating everyday threats to health.
Air purifiers. Mechanical or vegetative air purifiers should be used to eliminate the toxic compounds that are not removed by ventilation.
No leaf blowers. Prohibit the use of leaf blowers by landscape maintenance workers. This will not only eliminate the exhaust and pollution, but also dramatically reduce unnecessary noise.
Alternative transportation. Carpooling, alternative-fuel vehicles, public transportation and bicycling should all be encouraged for parents, students and staff.
Drop-off and pick-up policies. Stop parents from idling their cars as they wait for students to eliminate exhaust that collects on campus.
Minimization of light pollution. During nighttime and non-school hours, use only necessary lighting for operations, maintenance and emergency purposes. Do not allow outdoor light fixtures to be directed towards the sky as this disrupts ecosystems and is detrimental to night sky observation in high-density areas.
Natural daylight. Open blinds, windows and doors during class time. This will often reduce the need to use electricity while improving the efficiency and awareness of both students and staff.
