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IMPORTANT ALERT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PARENTS, UNION MEMBERS AND UNIONS INTERESTED IN BETTER INDOOR AIR QUALITY!
The EPA Tools for Schools (TfS) program, designed to raise awareness about good indoor air quality practices and provide helps to school districts for monitoring of school IAQ, sponsors an annual conference, held in Washington DC each winter.
The 2008 TfS conference is being held Dec. 4-6th. Registration required with limited attendance, so mark your calendars, establish your IAQ point people, and prepare for the funding to attend, now! Registration usually begins in the summer, so keep checking back with the EPA site, below.
Many districts send a team to this conference, consisting of facilities manager, superintendent or designee, parent representatives and union representatives - the point people for indoor air quality (IAQ). Some unions interested in IAQ send a large contingent, also. There is a meeting for NEA members, related to TfS and IAQ, the day before the TfS general conference begins. Union members of NEA should contact NEA-HIN Jennie Young, for details or go to the www.nea.org website for more details (Health Information Network - HIN - will post the date, and registration is required, with limited spaces again. Sometimes NEA pays for some of the expenses of some members to attend the NEA-HIN TfS IAQ conference, you can apply for subsidy as a member.
From the EPA website:http://www.epa.gov/iaq/:
To see if your school district or union sent representatives in 2007, click here for a roster of attendees by state.
If your district or union didn't attend, strongly encourage them to attend this year!
IAQ Tools for Schools (TfS) Program - Twenty percent of the U.S. population, nearly 55 million people, spend their days in our elementary and secondary schools. In the mid-1990s, studies show that 1 in 5 of our nation's 110,000 schools reported unsatisfactory indoor air quality, and 1 in 4 schools reported ventilation -- which impacts indoor air quality -- as unsatisfactory. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants. Learn More
US EPA INDOOR AIR QUALITY TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS UPDATE
News & Events
Webinar: How to Write Your Winning IAQ TfS Award Application, Thursday, June
26, 2008, at 2:00pm ET.
Participate in this Web call to learn about the IAQ TfS Awards Program, how
to write an award winning application, and how to effectively communicate
your IAQ management program's story. Past IAQ TfS award winners and
communications experts will share tips for success.
Click here to register today!
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/357074786
IAQ TfS National Awards:
Are you implementing a sustainable IAQ Management Program in your school or
school district? If so, apply today for a National Excellence Award or a
National Model of Sustained Excellence Award. Winners are selected for these
awards through a competitive application process and will be honored at an
awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., held in conjunction with the IAQ TfS
National Symposium.
Does your school or school district have an IAQ Management Plan? EPA
recognizes schools and school districts year round for their efforts to
improve IAQ in schools with the National Great Start and National Leadership
Awards. Apply for these awards today and receive recognition for your
program!
IAQ TfS National Symposium: December 4 - 6, 2008, Washington, DC.
Save the date for this exciting event! Visit the Symposium Web site for
resources and information from last year's Symposium, and keep an eye out
for the 2008 registration launch in late June!
Back to Top
Prepare for Summer! NOTE inserted from HSN-- Just because school is out,
does not mean the school is not in use. Schools often undertake major
repairs or renovations during the summer. Use EPA IAQ TfS protocol to
prevent illness and injuries from renovation and repairs: School users might
be pre-k tots, special education kids, day campers, administrators,
custodians, business officials, summer school students/test takers,
teachers, team sport camps, community groups.
Prepare for Summer!
Guest feature from the Southeast Rebuild Collaborative (SRC)
There are several issues to consider when shutting down a building during a
vacation period - two of the most important being energy waste reduction and
protection of the indoor environment. These two issues must be considered
simultaneously. On one hand, significant savings can be achieved by turning
everything off. On the other hand, you could wind up creating added costs by
not monitoring and adjusting for indoor temperature and humidity.
Fluctuations in the indoor environment can have a negative effect on both
the building itself in the form of mold and dust mites, as well as on the
building contents (such as books, files, sensitive musical instruments, or
pieces of artwork. For example, a good guide for summer vacation periods
would be to allow room spaces to stay within the range of 80-85°F while
maintaining a relative humidity level under 65%. This will help reduce
energy waste as well as avoid problems with the building and its contents.
Each facility manager should determine the operating parameters for their
facilities in meeting the "less than 65% RH" threshold.
Here are some strategies for reducing energy waste during periods of
non-occupancy:
Relocate activities that occur in the summer to facilities without a
centralized HVAC system so that smaller cooling systems could provide the
needed air conditioning.
Eliminate unnecessary plug loads by unplugging appliances such as small
refrigerators and using power strips to turn off electricity to small
appliances and computers.
Adjust HVAC systems for partial loading conditions to allow for maximum
dehumidification and reduced energy needs during unoccupied periods in the
hot and humid season. Use data loggers or humidistats to monitor space
conditions.
Obtain the support of top level management to promote the vacation shutdown
program.
The opportunities for partial or full shutdown of a building vary by the
building type, use, and season. For more information on vacation shutdown,
download a full Webinar presentation given by the Southeast Rebuild
Collaborative or visit the past IAQ TfS Web
Conference: "Implementing IAQ TfS: Proper Building Maintenance for Summer
Months".
Checklist
School is out, but heat and humidity are in - follow these tips to ensure
that the fall session begins with quality indoor air.
Check windows and doors for breaks and air leaks.
If you live in a humid climate, you may need to keep ventilation running and
monitor humidity levels within the building. Learn more about controlling
humidity indoors.
Ensure cleaned carpets are thoroughly dried. Learn about the formula for
mold growth.
Review the repairs and equipment purchases occurring over the summer to be
sure they align with your IAQ management plan. Learn more about durable,
high-efficiency equipment that can help improve your school's IAQ.
Proper choice of cleaners, adhesives, paints, pesticides, solvents,
carpeting, equipment, and furnishings can reduce the chemical fumes from
these products. Take the time to consider toxic-free products and read
labels.
Maintain and adjust combustion appliances and ensure proper venting to the
outside.
Be recognized for all of your hard work this summer by applying for an IAQ
TfS National Excellence Award or National Model of Sustained Excellence
Award. Read profiles of past award winners, and view the applications. The
deadline to apply is September 12, 2008 - start your application early!
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