Classroom without children in primary school.


An indoor air quality (IAQ) analysis determined how indoor environmental quality (IEQ) sensors can enhance environmental equity in school settings.

Educational facilities face many challenges in maintaining occupant health and safety—aging infrastructures, constricted budgets, labor shortages, and more. Additionally, external weather events such as wildfires and extreme heat are becoming more frequent and can add further stress to ventilation and filtration systems. In fact, of the many upgrades and replacements required, HVAC systems are the top need in 41 percent of school districts nationwide.

Students spend an average of 6 to 10 hours inside their classroom environment, making IAQ an essential element in preserving their well-being. Air quality addresses indoor pollutants and airborne contaminants, which can lower the risk of respiratory illnesses like asthma. Yet, a survey shared that 64 percent of K-12 educators rate their classroom air quality as “unsatisfactory,” with 83 percent believing it has contributed to student respiratory illnesses.

IEQ offers a solution to improve IAQ through real-time data and responses. School facilities can monitor IAQ, respond to problems, and meet sustainability initiatives in a timely, transparent, and consistent manner. The data attained by IEQ sensors also lends itself to improved compliance, providing evidence during environmental audits.

Despite these benefits, a report found that just three out of 23 school districts studied had implemented enough environmental sensors. An obstacle in the successful integration of this technology is a lack of technical training. While smart sensors provide a plethora of data, not all employees have the expertise to interpret it. Artificial intelligence (AI) or outside partnerships are possible solutions that can be leveraged by commercial cleaning executives to manage this data literacy gap.

To learn more about present barriers and future opportunities for IEQ implementation, access the study here. For additional tips for IAQ improvements in school facilities, click here.