The ventilation problem in schools: literature review

Journal Article · Thu Jul 06 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Indoor Air

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12403· OSTI ID:1437972

Fisk, W. J.  ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Indoor Environment Group

Based on a review of literature published in refereed archival journals, ventilation rates in classrooms often fall far short of the minimum ventilation rates specified in standards. We report that there is compelling evidence, from both cross-sectional and intervention studies, of an association of increased student performance with increased ventilation rates. There is evidence that reduced respiratory health effects and reduced student absence are associated with increased ventilation rates. Increasing ventilation rates in schools imposes energy costs and can increase heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system capital costs. The net annual costs, ranging from a few dollars to about 10 dollars per person, are less than 0.1% of typical public spending on elementary and secondary education in the United States. Finally, such expenditures seem like a small price to pay given the evidence of health and performance benefits.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1437972
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1399162
• Journal Information: Indoor Air, Vol. 27, Issue 6; Related Information: © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd; ISSN 0905-6947
• Publisher: Wiley
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
42 ENGINEERING
carbon dioxide
costs
health
performance
schools
ventilation