Improving School Air Quality: Strategies For Cleaner Air

Air pollution is a serious issue, especially for children, who are more vulnerable to its effects than adults. Schools are often located near busy roads, which can expose children to harmful pollutants. However, there are several ways to decrease air pollution in and around schools, including implementing indoor air quality (IAQ) management programs, using alternative traffic-free routes for the school run, and encouraging the use of hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment.

Encourage walking, cycling or scooting to school

Walking, cycling or scooting to school is a great way to reduce air pollution and congestion around the school gates. It's also a fantastic way to start the day, and to get children into good habits early. Kids who include physical activity in their daily lives are more likely to be active as adults, and there are plenty of health benefits for them and their parents.

To encourage children to walk, cycle or scoot to school, you could suggest that parents and children plan a traffic-free route together. There are over 5000 traffic-free miles on the National Cycle Network, so there's likely to be a route near you. You could also suggest that children walk, cycle or scoot with friends, which could make the journey more fun.

Schools could also promote active travel by organising a walk, cycle or scoot to school day, or week. This could be a fun way to encourage children to try a different way of getting to school, and to raise awareness of the benefits of active travel. Schools could also consider providing storage for bikes and scooters, and even offering rewards for children who walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Local authorities can also play a role in encouraging active travel to school. They could promote traffic-free routes, and provide infrastructure such as cycle lanes and pavements. They could also work with schools to develop travel plans that encourage active travel, and provide funding for initiatives such as bike storage.

Implement an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management program

Children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their natural defences and organs are still developing. They also breathe more frequently than adults, which means they can take in more pollutants. To combat this, schools can implement an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management program.

The US EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools provides tools and resources to help schools develop and sustain an effective and comprehensive IAQ management program. The program aims to improve health, decrease student and staff absenteeism, and save money through simple, low-cost actions.

Schools can take several steps to improve indoor air quality. Firstly, they can use energy-efficient appliances and heating systems, and ensure that electrical equipment is turned off when not in use. Schools can also direct local businesses and city offices towards programs that can help them reduce air pollution and become more sustainable.

Additionally, schools can participate in the Clean School Bus National Idle Reduction Campaign, which encourages schools to reduce idling and take action towards a cleaner, healthier environment. Schools can also use the US EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI) to notify people about outdoor air quality conditions. Brightly coloured flags can be raised each day to correspond to the local air quality forecast, helping to teach and protect students.

Raise a flag to notify the school community about outdoor air quality

Schools can play a vital role in reducing air pollution and raising awareness about its dangers. One way to do this is by raising a flag to notify the school community about outdoor air quality. This simple yet effective method can help keep students and staff informed about the local air quality forecast, encouraging healthy habits and protecting their well-being.

The US EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI) provides a colour-coded system that schools can use to raise a flag each day, corresponding to the predicted air quality. This visual cue serves as a daily reminder of the importance of clean air and can spark conversations about air pollution, empowering students and staff to take action.

By implementing this flag system, schools can actively involve their community in air quality monitoring. Students can be taught to recognise the different flag colours and their significance, fostering a sense of responsibility and environmental awareness. This can also encourage discussions about the sources of air pollution and potential solutions, such as reducing idling near schools and promoting active travel like walking or cycling to school.

Additionally, schools can take further steps to improve indoor air quality (IAQ), as children are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their developing organs and higher breathing rates. Implementing an IAQ management program can help create a healthier learning environment, reducing absenteeism and improving overall health for students and staff.

Overall, raising a flag to notify the school community about outdoor air quality is a powerful tool to engage and educate students and staff about the importance of clean air. It can inspire positive behaviour changes, reduce pollution exposure, and contribute to a healthier school environment.

Use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment

Running a lawnmower for an hour can produce nearly the same amount of pollution as a 100-mile car trip. To reduce air pollution in schools, it is recommended to use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment. This is a simple and effective way to improve air quality and health among students and staff.

Hand-powered lawn care equipment, such as push lawn mowers and manual hedge trimmers, can be a great way to reduce air pollution. These tools are often quieter and produce less emissions than their gas-powered counterparts. They can also be a good source of physical activity, promoting a healthy lifestyle for students and staff.

Electric lawn care equipment is another option for reducing air pollution. Battery-powered lawn mowers and trimmers are becoming increasingly popular and can be a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to gas-powered equipment. Electric equipment often requires less maintenance and produces fewer emissions, contributing to cleaner air.

Schools can also consider using a combination of hand-powered and electric equipment. For example, a push lawn mower can be used for larger areas, while electric trimmers can be utilised for more precise tasks. This approach can help strike a balance between physical activity and efficiency, while still reducing air pollution.

By implementing the use of hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment, schools can take a significant step towards improving air quality. This simple switch can have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students and staff, creating a cleaner and healthier learning environment for all.

Choose efficient appliances and heating systems

Choosing efficient appliances and heating systems is an important way to decrease air pollution in schools. Schools can start by conducting an energy audit to identify areas where energy is being wasted and follow the advice given to improve their energy efficiency. This may include replacing old appliances and heating systems with more modern, energy-efficient alternatives. For example, schools could switch to hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment, which produces less pollution than petrol-powered equipment. Schools could also invest in smart appliances and heating systems that can be controlled remotely and turned off when not in use, reducing energy consumption and associated air pollution.

Another way to improve energy efficiency and reduce air pollution is to ensure that windows and doors are properly sealed and insulated. This will prevent heat loss in the winter and reduce the need for excessive heating, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Proper ventilation is also key to maintaining good indoor air quality and preventing the build-up of pollutants. Schools should ensure that their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are well-maintained and regularly serviced to optimise their efficiency and minimise air pollution.

Schools can also reduce their energy consumption and associated air pollution by encouraging staff and students to adopt energy-saving behaviours. This may include simple actions such as turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, unplugging chargers once devices are fully charged, and using natural light whenever possible. Schools can also promote the use of energy-efficient transport options, such as walking, cycling, or taking the bus to school, to reduce air pollution from car journeys.

In addition to these behavioural changes, schools can invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to generate their own clean energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. By combining energy-efficient appliances and heating systems with renewable energy sources, schools can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and improve the air quality for their students and staff.

By implementing these measures, schools can play a crucial role in reducing air pollution and its associated health risks, especially for children who are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution due to their developing organs and higher respiratory rate.

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