School Technical Assistance Program
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EPA Schools Resources
Healthy and efficient schools are a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
priority and the agency has a number of excellent programs and
resources. Below is a link to a list of EPA websites where you can
accesses information on these valuable resources. |
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The goal of making the learning environment for our nation's children
one that supports education, rather than one that detracts from it
through uncomfortable and unhealthy classroom environments and
needlessly high energy costs, is successfully addressed by the different
facets of the ASERTTI Energy and Environment in Schools Technical Assistance Program
supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and ASERTTI
Members. This initiative builds on the results of four state-based
technology transfer and demonstration projects conducted over the past
several years, and aims to highlight the need for energy and
environmental improvements in
schools.
Why is Saving Energy and Improving the Learning Environment
Important?
 Our nation’s schools have a collective energy bill of more than $6
billion each year. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that at least
25 percent of that amount, or approximately $1.5 billion, could be saved
each year through better building design, widely available energy
efficient and renewable energy technologies, and improvements to
operations and maintenance. Technologies and improvements such as the
use of daylighting, improved indoor air quality, improved environment of
portable classrooms, and energy efficient integrated building
technologies used in high performance schools offer great potential for
significant energy savings that would translate to financial savings for
state and county governments across the nation.
 Daylighting
Daylighting is the choice, science, or practice of using daylight as
the primary daytime illuminant in a room or building. Cool Daylighting
is the successful application of daylighting to the contemporary
challenges of buildings that are internally load-dominated
buildings—that is, they easily become overheated during the winter
because they are so tightly sealed. The goal is to use daylighting to
reduce the need for electric lighting and space cooling (important for
school facilities that are used year-round as is happening in many
communities.) Beyond energy savings and reduced construction costs,
daylighting offers many benefits for the people who use the buildings.
For example, research has found that student performance improves when
daylight is available in the classroom.
Integrated Building Design
High performance energy efficient schools use a whole building,
integrated design strategy that incorporates the best of today's ideas
and technologies. From the beginning of the design process, each of the
building elements (windows, walls, building materials, air-conditioning,
landscaping, etc.) is considered part of an integrated system of
interacting components. Choices in one area often affect other building
systems; integrated design leverages these interactions to maximize the
overall building performance. High performance schools are not only
energy efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit, and contain
the amenities needed for a quality education.
Indoor Air Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies of human
exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may
be two to five times -- and occasionally more than 100 times -- higher
than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of great
concern in school buildings where our children, their teachers and
administrators spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Good indoor
air quality (IAQ) management includes:
 Control of airborne pollutants;
Introduction and distribution of adequate outdoor air; and Maintenance
of acceptable temperature and relative humidity. Outdoor sources should
also be considered since outdoor air enters school buildings through
windows, doors, and ventilation systems. Thus, transportation and
grounds maintenance activities become factors that affect indoor
pollutant levels as well as outdoor air quality on school grounds.
Portable Classroom
 Portable classrooms have become a common and acceptable low-cost
solution for school districts dealing with shrinking school budgets and
expanding enrollments. In many instances, this short-term fix often
becomes a permanent classroom. As an example, nearly one third of all
portable classrooms in Oregon are more than 20 years old. While initial
costs of portable classrooms are low, their on-going operating costs are
high. Portable classrooms usually have minimal insulation. Other major
problems with portables include poor indoor air quality, inadequate
natural light, and an unstable room temperature. Most portable
classrooms are built with materials and finishes that emit high volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). These noxious fumes are even more of a concern
because of the poor ventilation in most portables.
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