North Penn School District Recognized By EPA For Indoor Clean Air

School districts leading the way to prevent and solve indoor air quality problems in schools were honored at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 10th Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium in Washington, D.C. this week.

Among the honorees was the North Penn School Districts in Lansdale, Pa.

EPA created the Tools for Schools program a decade ago to address a range of indoor air quality and related problems in school buildings, including respiratory problems, headaches and nausea, and an alarming rise in asthma and allergies among schoolchildren.

The three-day symposium featured interactive sessions -- led by expert speakers and faculty from award-winning school districts -- on radon, mold, high-performing schools, integrated pest management, green cleaning products and practices, and asthma management.

“It is critical that our children have safe, healthy classrooms and an environment that helps them prepare for the future,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re proud to recognize the achievements of school districts working to protect our students from dangerous pollution in the places where they come to learn.”

The program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing indoor air quality (IAQ) problems.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that about half of the nation’s schools now have IAQ management programs in place, up from about one-fourth of schools in 2002. The CDC study also found that 85 percent of schools with IAQ management programs relied on EPA’s Tools for Schools program to guide their actions.

More information, visit the Symposium webpage. Also visit the EPA’s IAQ Tools for Schools webpage.