Commissioned research explores relationship between LEED and COVID transmission
The Client: Center for Green Schools
The Challenge: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of managing indoor air quality to reduce transmission of airborne viruses. The Center for Green Schools sought to understand the relationship between LEED and COVID transmission: Did schools that achieved LEED credits for Enhanced Indoor Air Quality fare better during the pandemic?
Our Approach: The Center for Green Schools commissioned IBE to lead a research study to answer this question. IBE brought in CSU faculty affiliates Sheryl Magzamen (Epidemiology) and Ellison Carter (Civil & Environmental Engineering) to analyze more than 300 K-12 schools across the country to determine if implementing the strategies required for achieving LEED IAQ credits improved schools’ abilities to minimize COVID-19 transmission. The study included a survey of school leadership and staff; interviews with facilities personnel and related participants; background research into community health metrics and other community profile data; and research into the specific building technologies used to achieve healthy indoor air at these schools.
The Outcomes: Study results uncovered some evidence that Enhanced IAQ credit achievement among LEED-certified schools may be associated with fewer COVID-related school closure days. Read more about the study and outcomes in Building and Environment here.
Project Outcomes
- Determined that IAQ credit achievement may have been associated with fewer COVID-related school closure days
- Explored the relationship between IAQ credits and schools’ confidence in mitigating COVID-19
- Analyzed qualitative, quantitative, and demographic data relating to study objectives
