Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/844521
Section 1: Introduction and How To Use the Energy Savings Plus Health Guide Purpose The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Energy Savings Plus Health Guide to protect and improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools during building upgrades, particularly ener gy efficiency upgrades and building renovation ac tivities. Energy management and protection of IAQ both should be critical priorities for school facility management. As school districts pursue energy cost savings and occupant health-protection goals, there can be a mistaken impression that the two goals are at odds with each other. In fact, when energy effi ciency and IAQ protection goals are integrated and addressed holistically, schools can achieve strong results in both areas. Alternatively, if careful atten tion is not paid to the interaction between energy management and IAQ, occupant health can suffer. Background A school's indoor environment can have a significant impact on health and learning. Children, in partic ular, are more vulnerable to the negative health and performance effects of poor environmental condi tions, including IAQ. Children often are more heavily exposed to toxic substances in the environment than adults because they spend more time on the ground and engage in more hand-to-mouth behavior. Chil dren also breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food per pound of body weight than adults (American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environ mental Health, 2003). A child's respiratory, immune, nervous, reproductive, and skeletal systems continue to develop throughout childhood. Exposures to envi ronmental contaminants that occur early in life can cause adverse health impacts in children that can have implications well into adulthood (EPA Office of Research and Development, 2007). Furthermore, some children with disabilities face unique challeng es that might make them particularly vulnerable to the effects of an unhealthy school environment (EPA State School Environmental Health Guidelines, 2012). Examples of symptoms caused by poor IAQ include respiratory irritation, sore throat, asthma attacks, drowsiness, headaches and inability to concentrate. Studies demonstrate associations between IAQ and the health and performance of students and staff members in U.S. schools. The research linking poor IAQ to children's health problems and reduced ac ademic performance shows the critical role that a school's indoor environment plays in student achieve ment. For example, good physical conditions in the school and adequate outdoor air ventilation can reduce absenteeism and improve test scores. For more information, examples and supporting references, see the section of this Guide entitled The Business Case for Integrating Energy Efficiency and IAQ. It is important to incorporate best practices for healthy and sustainable schools into energy efficiency up grades and building renovation activities at schools. Schools can benefit, from both fiscal and facility management standpoints, by taking advantage of the complementary nature of many IAQ and energy- efficient building practices. Integrating energy efficien cy and IAQ improvements—whether they involve the building structure, equipment or ongoing maintenance and operations—helps to streamline facility manage ment and saves staff members' time. Typically, many of the same personnel are involved in planning and implementing energy efficiency and IAQ programs at schools. School energy managers, facility managers and IAQ coordinators should work together through out the entire building upgrade process, from the design phases through construction and occupancy. Energy management and protection of IAQ both should be critical priorities for school facility management. As school districts pursue energy cost savings and occupant health-protection goals, there can be a mistaken impression that the two goals are at odds with one another. In fact, when energy efficiency and IAQ protection goals are integrated and addressed holistically, schools can achieve strong results in both areas. Alternatively, if careful attention is not paid to the interaction between energy management and IAQ, occupant health can suffer. Energy management activi ties can disturb hazardous materials, such as asbestos, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); create dust; introduce new contaminants and contaminant pathways; create or aggravate moisture problems; and result in inadequate ventilation in occupied spaces. This Guide focuses primarily on opportunities to protect and improve IAQ during building upgrades by prevent ing and controlling exposure of occupants to contam inants that may be disturbed or introduced during upgrade projects, controlling moisture, and ensuring that occupants are provided with adequate ventilation to promote health and comfort. This Guide does not (1) set new EPA regulatory requirements or in any way modify or supersede existing EPA regulatory require ments, (2) provide guidance on diagnosing occupant health problems or building-related illness, (3) address emerging issues that have not been linked to adverse health effects, (4) make training or training documents unnecessary, (5) provide detailed implementation guid ance on how to achieve the intent of each recommen dation in all situations, (6) identify funding availability or which programmatic funding sources should be used, or (7) provide guidance for prioritizing building-specific projects during the upgrade process. Portions of this Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUILDING UPGRADES 3