There is growing awareness of the importance of school building environments for student health, well-being, and even educational outcomes. We ask in this study what role school building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play in shaping student attendance, behavior, and learning. In particular, we extract information from…

This article aims to analyze the thermal comfort of the courtyard/cafeteria of the Monsenhor José Gerardo Ferreira Gomes Full-Time High School (EEMTI), from the perspective of the Discomfort Index (DI). The research was guided by the theoretical assumptions defined by Professor Carlos Augusto de Figueiredo Monteiro (2003), who defined a…

For schools to successfully deliver the computer studies curriculum, they should have, among other things, qualified teachers and computer laboratories. This study investigated the availability of qualified computer studies teachers and computer laboratories in public secondary schools in Lusaka City, Zambia. A mixed-methods approach was employed…

In this brief, the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF) welcomes new Minister of Education, the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside. The purpose of the brief is to provide context and recommendations for action on key issues of concern in the BC public education system. It brings together in one place many of the BCTF's concerns and proposals…

Wisconsin school districts received more than $2 billion in one-time federal relief funds to address the effects of COVID-19 and boost student recovery and district finances. Early spending focused on educational technology to help students and schools adapt to virtual learning, while later spending focused on catching students up academically…

In the past eight years, the design standards of classrooms have improved significantly. This movement was instigated by the introduction of the classroom acoustics standard in 2002 from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), in collaboration with the Acoustical Society of America. The standard, formally known as ANSI S12.60, has become…

When Arthur Stellar came to Massachusetts' Taunton Public Schools in 2005, he knew that part of his job as superintendent would be cost cutting. That's no easy task without sacrificing the quality of education the district provided. How to decrease what you spend without eliminating vital resources? One way, Stellar says, is to assess what you're…

Presents manufacturer and engineer suggestions on how schools can solve their rising energy costs in the face of more demanding classroom needs placing greater demands of Heating and air conditioning ventilation systems. The use of CO2 sensors, boiler technology and two-pipe systems are explored. (GR)

Discusses how schools can use geothermal technology to conserve energy and save money. How geothermal climate control works and its payback are examined, and examples of development and use are highlighted. (GR)

Explores the overlapping of energy efficiency, budget-cutting, and facility needs in K-12 schools. Utilities expenditures in schools are discussed for electricity and natural gas as are energy-saving alternatives such as daylighting, solar energy, wind production of power, and geothermal energy. Sources for further information conclude the…

Several articles are presented covering the development and use of gas/electric cooling solutions for public schools and colleges. Articles address financing issues; indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and solutions; and the analysis of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Three examples of how schools solved their cooling problems…

This manual, written in response to requirements of the Washington State legislature, focuses on practices which can be undertaken during the siting, design, construction, or renovation of a school, recommends practices to help ensure good indoor air quality during building occupancy, and suggests protocols and useful reference documents for…

Discusses how proper maintenance can help schools eliminate sources contributing to poor air quality. Maintaining heating and air conditioning units, investigating bacterial breeding grounds, fixing leaking boilers, and adhering to ventilation codes and standards are discussed. (GR)

Presents guidelines for designing classroom HVAC systems that will be able to achieve lower background noise levels that conform to the NC-30 background noise rating level. Guidelines for both central and dedicated systems are offered revealing that the use of conventional HVAC system components can be used to achieve sound levels comparable to…

Reveals how seeking simplicity can help bring indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions to grade schools by balancing IAQ needs, cost, and energy. Issues involving ventilation rate requirements are reexamined, as are compliance with outside-air requirements, dealing with variable-air-volume air distribution regulators, and retrofitting issues involving…