Tag: IEQ

K-12 Teachers Are Worried About Classroom Air Quality

Teachers across the United States and Canada are deeply concerned about the quality of their classroom air and believe school districts must do more to address the issue. That’s according to the third annual Clean Air Survey of North American Educators from Fellowes. The study, which surveyed more than 1,200 K-12 teachers, underscores the critical role of clean air in […]

Cleveland Museum Earns Top Green Building Certification

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, in partnership with DLR Group, has achieved one of highest honors in sustainable building design, becoming the first museum in the United States to earn LEED v4 BD+C NC Platinum certification. A prestigious status designated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED, or Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design, is […]

EPA Celebrates $34M in Grants to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act grants awarded to five organizations to help school districts across the country improve indoor air quality (IAQ). EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz recently joined the grantees at Horatio B. Hackett School in Philadelphia to congratulate them on their awards, underscore the importance of IAQ, and highlight previous school efforts. “EPA is proud to […]

Smart Building Technologies for Healthier Indoor Environments

Smart buildings today are far more than a token contribution to sustainability or a clever way to save energy—they positively impact health, safety, and comfort. This shift in how we design and operate buildings comes as research increasingly links indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to human well-being and productivity. Modern technologies offer powerful tools to meet […]

Why Are Healthy Buildings Important?

During the opening keynote session of Facilities Management Advisor’s FM Now: Healthy Buildings virtual summit, “Connecting the Dots: Moving Toward an Integrated Approach to Healthy and Sustainable Reporting for Buildings,” the topic of healthy buildings was discussed, including the financial and employee benefits of healthy facilities, how healthy buildings can combat climate change, ways healthy […]

Emergency Preparedness for Climate Disasters: Overcoming Hurdles in Schools

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Spring has arrived in much of the United States: flowers are budding, and frosty mornings are giving way to longer, sunnier days. With these changes comes another, less-welcome seasonal threat: wildfires, which produce excessive […]

EPA Offers $32 Million to Help Schools Boost Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of up to $32 million to address indoor air pollution at K-12 schools in “overburdened communities.” The announcement comes just days after the EPA awarded nearly $1 billion for zero- and low-emission school buses. This new funding opportunity is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act and […]

Mitigating Poor Air Quality in Schools Now Can Prevent a Shutdown Later

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. As students return to school from a record-breaking hot summer, many are entering facilities with poor indoor air quality (IAQ), the effects of which can be dangerous. Though temperatures are beginning to […]

Top Trends in Healthy Buildings: A Guide for Facilities Managers

In the ever-evolving world of facilities management, there is a bigger emphasis on promoting the health and well-being of building occupants. Healthy buildings go beyond energy efficiency and sustainability; they prioritize factors that directly impact the health, productivity, and comfort of those inside. From optimizing air quality to meeting industry standards, facilities managers should consider […]

The CDC Ventilation Update Couldn’t Have Come Sooner: Real-Time Monitoring Is Needed Now

Editor’s note: The views expressed in op-eds are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. The recent Canadian wildfires greatly impacted air quality hundreds of miles away in major American cities, demonstrating how disasters in one country can affect the health of others. This issue also came to light in […]