Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The University of Utah has been selected to receive $6.5 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The funding will support the development of indoor air quality management and greenhouse gas reduction plans for schools in urban and rural areas in Utah and Nevada, as well as with the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming.
The initiative will focus on energy efficiency assessments of school buildings, monitoring indoor and outdoor air pollutants, demonstrating the effectiveness of air pollution reduction strategies, developing an indoor air quality school phone app, community engagement, training, educational activities, and providing guidance on indoor air quality and greenhouse gas reduction to schools.
The University of Utah is one of five recipients sharing $34 million in grant funding aimed at addressing indoor air pollution in schools. These grants are part of the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, which represents a significant investment in climate action and environmental justice.
“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,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “These grants will put schools in the best position to improve attendance and academic achievement while addressing the unique and disproportionate health impacts that children in overburdened communities face as a result of indoor air quality challenges.”
The EPA expects to finalize and award these grants by fall 2024 once all legal and administrative requirements are met. Projects are anticipated to begin shortly thereafter.
Other entities selected for awards include:
- The American Lung Association: This organization will deploy the Clean Air School Challenge to raise awareness, educate, build capacity, increase implementation, and recognize efforts by schools nationwide.
- The New York State Department of Health and Health Research Inc.: They will provide capacity building for indoor air quality and greenhouse gas reduction in disadvantaged and Tribal schools throughout New York State.
- The Go Green Initiative: Partnering with the National School Boards Association, this initiative will offer education and training for school staff across all 50 states.
- The U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools: This entity will build capacity among school district staff to establish indoor air quality management plans.
With this announcement, the Biden-Harris Administration aims to drive climate action, improve public health, and support educational achievement particularly in disadvantaged communities. These projects are expected to help schools develop comprehensive indoor air quality plans through training, education, capacity building, research, and demonstration projects.
The Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative which aims for 40% of certain federal investments' benefits to flow to marginalized communities overburdened by pollution.
Approximately one-sixth of the U.S. population attends or works in roughly 130,000 schools nationwide. Half of all K-12 students attend schools without proper indoor air quality management plans or programs. Improving air quality is crucial as children's developing organ systems are more sensitive to environmental stressors than adults'.
Evidence suggests that managing indoor air quality comprehensively improves student performance and attendance while reducing airborne illnesses like COVID-19. It also extends building system lifespans and lowers greenhouse gas emissions from schools through reduced energy consumption.
For more information about Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools or Indoor Air Quality in Schools visit EPA's website.