Clean Air For Schools Project

This project serves to implement a program that provides a systemic network of indoor air quality monitors in Colorado schools that receive HEPA portable air cleaners (PACs) through CDPHE’s .  PACs can supplement existing air handling systems to help improve air circulation while reducing common indoor air pollutants in classrooms. When used as part of a school facility’s operation management toolkit, indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring can help facility managers and staff understand in real-time when classroom air filtration needs to be addressed or when ventilation needs to be increased. IAQ monitoring combined with the supplemental air filtration PACs provide, are valuable in the management and maintenance of a healthy indoor environment for all students and staff. Through the “Clean Air for Schools” program, CDPHE will provide PACs for approximately 30,000 classrooms, with strategic deployments prioritized in approximately 50-70% of the K-12 schools across the state of Colorado (approximately 1,000 to 1,400 schools) by the end of the project period (July 31, 2023). The goal of this project with the “Clean Air for Schools” program is to complement the PAC distribution by implementing an air monitoring network in approximately 2,400 classrooms in Colorado K-12 schools.  

Dr. Hernandez's Aerobiology & Disinfection Lab team will:

- Enroll interested schools in the program
- Install free air quality monitors in school classrooms across the state with a free two year subscription for indoor air quality monitoring services*
- Provide subject matter expertise on indoor air quality issues

*After the free two year subscription ends, schools can choose whether or not to continue paying the annual subscription fee.  Based on the current number of units deployed, the estimated annual subscription fees are anticipated to fall within the range of $1,000 to $6,000 per school. Schools could consider maintaining a partial/smaller network of units in their school after the initial free two-year subscription, which would reduce the total subscription fees while still providing continued information and data for the school. Fees are subject to potential adjustments.

DISTRICT & SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

The Clean Air For Schools Project has enrolled 369 schools from the following 28 districts: Academy 20, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Adams 14, Adams-Arapahoe 28J, Brush RE-2(J), Bufalo School District RE4-J, Byers 32J, Charter School Institute, Colorado River BOCES, Denver Public Schools, Douglas, Douglas County RE-1, DSST Public Schools, Edison SD 54JT, Ignacio 11 JT, Jefferson County R-1, Lamar Re-2, Moffat Consolidated, Monte Vista C-8, Montezuma-Cortez RE-1, Other, Ouray, Poudre R-1, Pueblo City 60, St. Vrain Valley RE1J, Summit RE-1, Thompson R2-J, Weld County RE-3J. A full map of participating schools can be found . A map of the social vulnerability index (SVI) of participating schools can be found here. 

INDOOR AIR QUALITY RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS

Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Schools 

View Attune Air Quality Monitoring Training Materials 

Session 1: September 14th 11 AM MT
Session 2: October 26th 11 AM MT
Session 3: November 15th 2 PM MT

View Webinar Slides on Indoor Air Quality Monitoring in Schools 

WEBINAR SLIDES ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN SCHOOLS
ENROLLED DISTRICTS & SCHOOLS

School layout
Dashboard preview
Explanation of IAQ metrics
Q: Why should my school care about indoor air quality (IAQ)?

A: Monitoring indoor air quality in schools is crucial for the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff. Poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on concentration, learning, and overall academic performance. It can also contribute to respiratory problems, headaches, fatigue, and allergies, leading to absenteeism and decreased productivity. Indoor air quality can be affected by a variety of factors such as building materials, ventilation systems, cleaning products, and outdoor pollutants. By monitoring indoor air quality, schools can identify potential issues and take appropriate measures to improve air quality, such as increasing ventilation, using air purifiers, and avoiding the use of certain chemicals. This can help create a better environment for all school building occupants.

A: The Monitoring Clean Air For Schools Program, a part of the larger Clean Air For Schools Program is fully funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment  and includes air monitors, complete monitor installation, training, and access to a school data dashboard with two years of monitoring service subscription at no cost to your school(s).

A: The number of monitors installed will be determined by the number of classrooms and students at each participating school.  The project aims to provide between 20-25% coverage of classrooms in each school with a minimum of three monitors per school.  

A: Air monitors will be installed in classrooms around the school.  The monitors measure carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity level and particulate matter.  This data from each monitor will be sent through the school wireless network to a central hub.  School personal can access IAQ data from a desktop or mobile app in a secure portal. The data collection, transmission and reporting is completely secure and does not access or interfere with school data or electronics.

A: Schools will be invited to an online training session and will also be able to access a training video.  Additional information and resources will be provided on the CDPHE website including some suggested educational resources, should a school want to develop some curriculum around air and indoor monitoring. 

A: Our team will be coordinating monitor installation at schools across Colorado between April 2023 – July 31, 2023.  We will notify the designated contact person in May what week installation is happening.  We will communicate a minimum of 3 days before the actual installation to further specify day and time. Installation takes only about 10 minutes per unit each room and is uninvasive.

A: You can provide our installation team with a preference which will be part of our planning, but our team will make a final decision based on advantageous monitor distribution across the school.

A: In addition to installing the monitors in classrooms, the Installation team will install a small “Data Hub”, which needs to be plugged into an outlet, in a location that is relatively secure, like the school office.  The Data Hub is very small and innocuous and serves to gather data from all classroom monitors. 

A: The tech will test that the units are properly communicating to the cloud.  This should take no more than 15 minutes.  A training materials package will be sent to the contact for each school with links to enroll in a training webinar.

A:  Minimal. The monitors are self-regulating and reporting.  Should any sensor go offline, which can happen if they are mistakenly unplugged, Attune, the monitor provider, will automatically be notified and will contact the designated school contact person to check the sensor.

A: Schools will have access to a mobile or desktop app provides real-time, top-level data in a very simple to understand dashboard.  The project will provide third party guidelines where available on air quality measurements. 

A: Schools can look at the data in the app to help inform if there is a need to manage the HVAC operation, open windows, increase filtration etc.  However, the University of Colorado at Boulder team will be collecting and analyzing the data over the 2 year period. CDPHE does not track if schools are looking at or using the data for facility management.

A: The air monitors and air monitoring data are provided free through the CDPHE for 2 years.  It will be up to the school to decide if they want to continue with a paid service or not after the 2 years.  Schools will not be responsible or charged for removing monitors or return shipping should the school decide not to continue with the service.  The monitors are available for use at no cost.  Schools are expected to find benefit from having real time information about classroom air quality. 

 

This project is part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Disease Control and Public Health Response Division’s Indoor Air Quality Program, and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $173,450,305 with 0% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Questions about the project can be addressed to media_info@state.co.us .