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As part of President Biden’s National Preparation for COVID-19 released on March 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the “Clean Air Challenge in Buildings,” a call to action and a concise set of guiding principles and actions to help building owners. and operators with reduced risk of viruses in the air and other pollutants indoors. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a number of recommendations and resources available to help improve ventilation and indoor air quality, which can help better protect the health of building occupants and reduce the risk of the COVID-19.
Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 can be spread by inhaling particles and aerosols into the air. In addition to other layered prevention strategies such as vaccination, actions to improve ventilation, filtration, and other proven strategies for cleaning the air can reduce the risk of exposure to particles, aerosols, and other contaminants, and improve the quality of the indoor air and the health of the occupants of the building.
Key actions outlined in the Clean Air in Buildings challenge include:
- Create a clean indoor air action plan,
- Optimize fresh air ventilation,
- Improve air filtration and cleanliness, and
- Perform participation, communication and education with the community.
Green Seal CEO Doug Gatlin praised the initiative, noting the importance of indoor air quality for occupant health and the ability to stay productive:
“I applaud the Biden Administration’s announcement of a clean air challenge in buildings, which encourages building owners, schools, colleges and universities to take key steps to improve indoor air quality and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The pandemic made the creation of healthy school environments an urgent national priority and highlighted the serious investment in school facilities across the country. But the fact is that even before the pandemic, nearly half of all American schools reported indoor air quality problems that put the health of students and staff at risk.
The Green Seal and Healthy Schools Campaign Healthy Green Schools & Colleges standard provides specific, detailed guidance that is closely aligned with the Biden Administration’s ventilation guidelines and will help schools and universities implement the recommendations of the Biden Administration. White House without making large capital investments.
Unhealthy indoor air, inadequate ventilation, and exposure to chemicals from cleaning and maintenance routines continue to pose systemic challenges to school districts. In addition to health concerns, these issues are related to poor concentration and performance on student tests, adding avoidable barriers to performance.
I welcome the White House’s focus on prioritizing clean, safe indoor air quality in schools and all buildings. Combined with the $ 122 billion investment by the Biden Administration in schools in the U.S. Rescue Plan, we have a rare opportunity to encourage health and sustainability-focused upgrades to school facilities to help maintain students, staff and all occupants of the building safe and healthy during the pandemic and beyond. ”
For more information on the Clean Air In Buildings challenge, click here.