Indoor Environment
Indoor environmental quality depends on many factors, and has a direct impact on human health and performance.
A sustainable indoor school environment includes only materials, chemicals, designs and management strategies that promote learning, health, and well being, with related costs optimized over the life of the building.
Information relating to IEQ and toxics can also be found on these Topic Resource pages:
- Buildings (materials, design, site location and design)
- Grounds (outdoor pesticides, grounds maintenance, outdoor leaded paint)
- Water (chemical disposal)
- Material Resources (disposal of hazardous materials)
- Transportation (vehicle exhaust, IAQ in school buses)
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) - General
Judith Heerwagen presentation
Investing in People: The Human Benefits of Sustainable Design
Minnesota Department of Health, Schools program
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Indoor Environmental Quality webpage
Northwest Clean Air Agency
Free download videos: The Virtual School IAQ Walk Through; Mold in Your Home: Causes, Prevention, Cleanup; Attack Asthma at Home
Oregon Environmental Council
Portland Public Schools: Health and Safety
Website includes info on many of the IEQ sub-topics.
SHPPS (School Health Policies and Programs Study)
Website for a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and programs at the state, district, school, and classroom levels.
U.S. EPA
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) site, including Tools for Schools and mentor network
- Healthy School Environments site, including HealthySEAT (Healthy Schools Environmental Assessment Tool)
- Healthy School Environment Resources: Topics include chemical management, waste management, asbestos, lead, indoor & outdoor air quality, pesticide management, and much more
- Mold Remediation in Schools
Washington State Division of Environmental Health
Washington State K-12 Health and Safety Guide
Washington State University Energy Program
School Indoor Air Quality site: Technical assistance for EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools program, NW School IAQ newsletters, Fact Sheets, reports
Western Area Power Administration
Asthma, Health and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
American Lung Association in Oregon
Website includes asthma information and resources, and school programs such as EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools program, and Open Airways for Schools
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
Asthma Community Network
Website resource to link with other communities' work on asthma. A model for action at the community level.
Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative
Website including toolkit
CDC: Six Strategies for Addressing Asthma within a Coordinated School Health Program
EPA: Asthma Management in Schools
NASBE (National Association of State Boards of Education) Center for Safe and Healthy Schools
Policy guide called “Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn; A School Health Policy Guide”. See Part III: Policies on Asthma, School Health Services, and Healthy Environments.
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
Resource Lists for safe schools, healthy schools, high performance schools, maintenance and operations, and more.
Oregon Asthma Leadership Plan
Oregon Asthma Network School Asthma Resource Center
http://www.schoolasthmaallergy.com/html/states-enhanced/OR/tools.html
Buildings and IEQ
ASHRAE Standards 62.1-2010
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
EPA’s IBEAM (IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model
Guidance tool for building professionals and others interested in IAQ in commercial buildings.
Mold: Cause, Effect, Response
An outstanding guide to mold. Available from the Foundation of the Wall and Ceiling Industry for $10 at their website
US Green Building Council LEED for Schools, Indoor Environment Section
Chemical Management
Chemical Strategies Partnership
Chemical and Waste Management System pilot and guide for K-12 School Districts.
EPA
School Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3)
Portland Public Schools, Oregon
Chemical Hygiene Plan for high schools
University of Oregon Green Chemistry
Comprehensive site about green chemistry
Curriculum
Hydroville Curriculum Project
Curriculum from Oregon State University: Environmental Health Sciences Center
CEFPI: School of the Future Design Competition curriculum
National Education Assoc. Health Information Network (NEA HIN)
Lesson plans that supplement the U.S. EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools Program.
Environmental Health Perspective's Science Education Program
Green Education Foundation
Currently piloting building curriculum with some IEQ aspects.
Healthy, Sustainable Cleaning
Coastwide Laboratories
Website links to technical articles and information.
Environmental Law Institute
Green Cleaning in Schools: Summary of Selected State and School District Policies, and more
Green Schools Initiative
Healthy Schools Campaign
“The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools”
National Collaborative Work Group on Green Cleaning and Chemical Policy Reform in Schools
Cleaning for Healthy Schools toolkit
Pest Management
IPM Institute of America
National Pesticide Information Center
Pest and pesticide information
NIOSH
4-page fact sheet "Reducing pesticide exposures at schools"
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids program
Oregon State University
Integrated Plant Protection Center including model IPM plan for schools
Toxic Materials
Art and Creative Materials Institute
Multnomah County Public Health
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Toxics use and hazardous waste reduction
Vehicle Idling
Airwatch Northwest
Oregon Environmental Council
Healthy Homes
Healthy Home Partnership
Website includes teacher and a consumer section
Healthy Homes Assessing Your Indoor Environment Users’ Guide
"Healthy Homes: Assessing Your Indoor Environment" (In English and Spanish) Colorful, reader-friendly 90-page booklet [user guide to the DVD]
Portland-Vancouver Smokefree Housing Project
Practical Management Strategies Project
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Healthy Homes Program - Great basic information
Help Yourself to a Healthy Home