The topic of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is now more prevalent than ever. Post-pandemic, there’s a better understanding of how air quality can affect health and safety in learning environments. Viruses, mold, and wildfire smoke are prevalent particulates present in the air that can affect health conditions such as asthma, as well as overall wellbeing.
Air quality monitoring is complex and while there’s an abundance of data available, the ability to interpret and act on that data can be challenging. How can you keep up with current standards, developing guidelines, and evolving research and align your IAQ strategy effectively?
Investing in a technology that doesn’t work is a real risk: one that can seriously impede progress towards your energy efficiency and decarbonization goals as well. There’s also the potential to create a false sense of security in the level of air quality. Lingering contaminants in the breathing zone can affect the health, well-being, and focus for students, educators, and staff and potentially affect attendance and positive student outcomes.
Taking a multi-layered approach with a focused strategy for managing your IAQ can help ensure you are making the best decisions related to technology today and for the future. By setting benchmarks and continuously monitoring, while addressing concerns of your school community, you can adjust and track outcomes to demonstrate effectiveness, progress, and success.