Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
On August 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $34 million in grant funding to address indoor air pollution in schools. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and aims to support low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities across the nation.
The grants are funded through the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, which is noted as the largest investment in climate action and environmental justice in history. EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe emphasized the importance of clean air for children's health and academic success: “Children spend so much of their day in school. It is critical for their health and academic success that schools have clean and healthy air.”
The five selected recipients will use these funds to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution from kindergarten through grade 12. The grants are expected to be finalized by fall 2024, with projects commencing shortly thereafter.
The University of Utah will develop indoor air quality management plans for schools in urban and rural areas of Utah, Nevada, and with the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming. The American Lung Association will implement the Clean Air School Challenge nationwide to educate and build capacity among schools on indoor air quality management.
The New York State Department of Health and Health Research, Inc., will focus on capacity building for disadvantaged and Tribal schools throughout New York State. The Go Green Initiative will collaborate with the National School Boards Association to provide education and training across all 50 states, targeting Tribal and low-income districts specifically.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools aims to build capacity among school district staff serving low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities by establishing comprehensive indoor air quality management plans.
This announcement aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative, which seeks to ensure that 40% of certain federal investments benefit marginalized communities affected by underinvestment and pollution.
Approximately one-sixth of the U.S. population attends or works in around 130,000 schools nationwide. Half of all K-12 students attend schools without indoor air quality management plans. Addressing this issue is crucial as children are more sensitive to environmental stressors than adults due to their developing organ systems.
Evidence suggests that managing indoor air quality improves student performance, reduces airborne illnesses like COVID-19, extends building system lifespans, lowers greenhouse gas emissions from schools, and provides significant cost savings through reduced energy consumption.
Further details on how schools can connect with organizations receiving funding will be provided on EPA's website.