Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On August 22, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of five recipients for $34 million in grants aimed at addressing indoor air pollution in schools. These selected applications will fund initiatives to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution in K-12 schools within low-income, disadvantaged, and tribal communities nationwide. These grants are made possible by the President's Inflation Reduction Act, marking a significant investment in climate action and environmental justice.
"Children spend a significant portion of their day at school. It is crucial for their health and academic success that schools have clean and healthy air," stated EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. "These grants will place schools in the best position to improve attendance and academic performance while addressing the unique and disproportionate health impacts faced by children in overburdened communities due to indoor air quality challenges."
The EPA anticipates finalizing and awarding these grants to the five selected applicants by fall 2024, pending all legal and administrative requirements. The selected entities will commence their projects shortly thereafter.
The following entities have been chosen to receive awards:
The University of Utah will support the development of indoor air quality management plans and greenhouse gas reduction strategies for schools in urban and rural areas of Utah and Nevada, as well as with the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming. This will be achieved through energy efficiency assessments of school buildings, monitoring of indoor and outdoor air pollutants, demonstrating effective air pollution reduction strategies, developing a school phone application for indoor air quality, community engagement, training, educational activities, and providing guidance on indoor air quality and greenhouse gas reduction to schools.
The American Lung Association will implement the Clean Air School Challenge to raise awareness, educate, build capacity, increase implementation efforts, and recognize efforts by schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and tribal communities across the country as they implement comprehensive indoor air quality management plans.
New York State Department of Health and Health Research Inc. will provide capacity-building for indoor air quality management and greenhouse gas reduction in disadvantaged and tribal schools throughout New York State and other states nationwide. The two organizations aim to enable hundreds of disadvantaged and tribal schools in New York to adopt sustainable indoor air quality management plans that improve air quality while reducing greenhouse gases—benefiting 1.6 million disadvantaged students along with teachers and school staff.
The Go Green Initiative will partner with the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and its state affiliates to provide education and training for school staff, administrators, board officials involved in improving school indoor air quality while reducing climate pollution across all 50 states. They will also offer intensive technical assistance tailored specifically for tribal school districts or those with low incomes within EPA’s ten regions.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools aims to build capacity among district staff in low-income, disadvantaged, or tribal communities for establishing indoor air quality management plans alongside greenhouse gas reduction strategies. This effort builds on long-standing support provided by the Center for Green Schools which has benefited hundreds of district employees collectively serving 9.3 million students.
With today's announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration advancing climate action efforts improves public health while supporting educational achievements especially among children attending schools within underserved communities through these projects helping develop comprehensive plans enhancing training education capacity building research demonstration efforts promoting environmental justice equity aligning Justice40 initiative aiming ensure benefits federal investments flow marginalized overburdened communities
Background
Approximately one-sixth U.S population attends works around 130000 schools nationwide half K-12 students attend without having any programs managing ensuring good standards crucial since children's developing systems more sensitive stressors exposed toxic substances adults proportionately breathing higher amounts substantial evidence shows comprehensive management improves student performance reduces airborne disease spread extends building system lifespan cuts emissions saves costs through lower energy consumption
More information on Funding Grants Addressing Indoor Air Pollution Schools available future updates details connecting partnering funded organizations
