Enhanced IAQ & COVID Study | Center for Green Schools

Determining the relationship between LEED credits for enhanced indoor air quality and COVID-19 strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the importance of strategies to manage indoor air quality to reduce the risk of transmission of airborne of viruses. Through a grant funded by the Center for Green schools, IBE is leading a study to better understand how schools who have earned LEED credits for Enhanced Indoor Air Quality are performing through the pandemic.  CSU researchers and IBE faculty partners Sheryl Magzamen (Epidemiology) and Ellison Carter (Civil and Environmental Engineering), along with IBE staff, are analyzing more than 300 K-12 schools across the country.  The study is focused on understanding if implementing the required strategies for achieving LEED IAQ credits has affected school’s abilities to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. This research study includes a survey of school leadership and staff and 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. Project results are expected by early 2023.