the green angle THE SOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING NEWS Retrofitting Schools Achieves Better Energy Efficiency And Air Quality
Low-hanging fruit There are some simple ways to help improve conditions such as air quality and acoustics— shown to affect students’ test scores—with minimal investment and interruption. Due to lack of funding, many schools have been forced to cut back on janitorial support. This means floors are not cleaned as regularly, which can be a big issue, especially in environments outfitted with carpet flooring. Dust, dirt, and carpet fibers travel through the air, clogging air filters and compromising the c quality of ventilation. Changing the air q filters and moving away from high-mainttenance carpeting can significantly help or professionals looking to become involved in school improve air quality. improvements philanthropically, there are plenty of The lack of inadequate insulation—in opportunities. In the past decade, a number of organizations walls, around pipes, and in HVAC airw have sprung up to work toward improving the state of public handling ducts—causes energy inefficiency h schools across the country: a and noise pollution, which are detrimental tto learning. Many schools choose to forego • The Green Schoolhouse Series insulation in these areas due to budgetary www.greenschoolhouseseries.org c constraints, but adding insulation to these • IAQ Design Tools for Schools ducts is a key component of any school d remodel. It reinforces the purpose of the www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign/portables.html and sstructure: to provide a quiet, productive www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign/controlling.html place for students to learn. p • National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities Re-insulating or simply adding more www.ncef.org/green-schools insulation will save heating and cooling costs for a return on investment in the long c • Allergy Clean Environments run and a better classroom environment. allergyclean.com/news/freshairimprovestestscores.htm ute to a productive learning environment. Third, LEED certification is in higher demand than ever before. It often is less expensive to build a new school than renovate an existing building. Because building codes, including the adoption of more stringent rules regarding lead and asbestos abatement, have changed so much over the past few decades, anything beyond simple retrofits may require an expensive demolition (overseen by a certified, licensed asbestos-abatement
The issue of America’s aging schools and the potential impact that subpar conditions may have on students has been a popular topic of discussion in the past decade. During a televised appeal for his Jobs Act in October 2011, President Barack Obama addressed the issue of the nation’s crumbling schools head on. “There’s no heat in the winter or air conditioning in the summer. In some of the schools, the ventilation is so poor it can make students sick,” he said. “How do we expect our kids to do their very best in a situation like that? Every child deserves a great school.” According to many sources, the average public school is more than 40 years old—a great concern, since structures built before about 1978 are most likely to contain potentially hazardous materials. Brightenalife.org, a non-profit organization based in Scottsdale, AZ, and dedicated in part to improving learning environments in underfunded communities, attributes more than 10 million missed school days each year to environmental conditions, which can include poor indoor-air quality, ventilation issues, and mold. Furthermore, the organization reports that energy inefficiencies cost the average school about $100,000 each year—money that could be better spent on teachers and materials. • 21st Century School Fund The growing visibility of these www.21csf.org problems has created a movement to achieve greater energy efficiency and • Coalition for Better Buildings air quality in schools. In 2007, Hands On www.c4bb.org Schools, an organization through the • Brighten a Life Hands On Network, Atlanta, launched a brightenalife.org/areas.html two-year program to renovate 100 schools nationwide with a partnership with The • Hands On Network Home Depot, Atlanta. In 2010, ABC’s www.handsonnetwork.org “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” aired Those inspired to create a school renovation program or two special episodes in which volunteers renovated seven schools with serious volunteer to make a change in their own community might safety and sanitation concerns. consider attending The National Conference on Volunteering However, the overwhelming number and Service, held in Chicago, June 18 to 20, 2012. of schools don’t benefit from volunteer support from grassroots organizations, rescue teams, or the grant funds offered by major specialist), followed by a major remodel or legislation. Perhaps the most important step addition to ensure that new codes are met. these schools can take is selecting contractors Of course, starting from scratch is not who are experienced in addressing their unique always a practical solution or even an option. In needs. That’s where you come in. addition to the time requirements, there is the issue of finding a temporary school location (if Dealing with the issues the existing structure is to be demolished) and There are several integral considerations for this the commitment to tackling the entire project type of project. First, recognize that there will be in one fell swoop, which requires resources cost limitations that may prohibit using the most upfront. In those cases, retrofitting will allow the cost-effective or fastest approach to the project. school to approach the improvement process Second, it’s function over form, as greater priority slowly to spread out costs and avoid displacing is given to aspects of the structure that contribstudents during the renovation process.
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M Mold mitigation What can be done about other hazardous W conditions, such as mold? If mold is identified, c a professional must address the problem immediately. Installing inexpensive hygrometers tto monitor humidity levels, which should be k kept below 50% by adequate HVAC systems, is an effective way to prevent the development a of mold. Another precautionary measure o is to ensure the structure’s roof is properly maintained, and to promptly make necessary repairs. Another effective way to improve air quality is to cut down on off gassing. Using q finishes and materials that are low in volatile o organic compounds (VOCs) can reduce the number of toxins. Contractors wishing to bid on such school projects may find it helpful to highlight LEED and other green certifications. In addition, demonstrating depth of knowledge about subsidies and rebate programs may offer a competitive advantage and commitment to return on investment. Richard Gebhart is technical manager for commercial-industrial products at Owens Corning, Toledo, OH.
