Mothers for Clean Air

1
Mothers for Clean Air

• In Spring Branch ISD

Rebecca Cordeiro de Peredo Energy Manager Spring
Branch Independent School District
2
Who Am I?

• Energy and Environmental Management
• Created in 2003
• Responsible for reducing operations costs while
  maintaining a comfortable and safe learning
  environment for students

3
Spring Branch ISD

• Number of Schools 46
• Number of Students 32,000
• Building Age range 5 50 years
• Majority Age 40 50 years

4
Mothers for Clean Air

• Jane Laping introduced us to Tools for Schools in
  2004
• Developed by the EPA to promote good Indoor Air
  Quality in schools
• Program started in November 2004 with a grant
  from the EPA to pay for one part time employee,
  Sharon Braiteh

5
What is Tools for Schools?

• Indoor Air Quality program created by the
  Environmental Protection Agency specifically for
  Schools
• Series of information packets, checklists and
  observational aids to help identify practices and
  situations that may cause bad air quality

6
What is done?

• Surveys are distributed to occupants, custodians
  and HVAC technicians and the results are compiled
• Team consisting of a Coordinator, Teachers,
  Maintenance and Custodial staff conduct
  walkthrough of building.
• Observations are made, and ideas are exchanged
  for solutions

7
Tools for Schools

• Goals
• Educate school staff about the need for good
  Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• The benefits of good IAQ Vs the cost
• What to look for - checklists
• What to do to maintain good IAQ on a school level

8
Why the Focus on Education?

• Maintenance Language
• AC or Ventilation Unit

• Teacher Language
• Extra Table

9
Tools for Schools
10
Tools for Schools

• Wins
• 40 out of 46 schools voluntarily participated by
  designating an IAQ Coordinator, creating an IAQ
  team and completing walkthroughs and
  recommendations list
• 4 training sessions were held for IAQ
  coordinators, featuring guest speakers

11
Tools for Schools

• Wins
• Some campuses even rallied support from the
  community to clean up their school during Earth
  Day

12
Tools for Schools

• Wins
• Most locations that have correctly implemented
  the program report a reduction in pest intrusion
  and a more comfortable environment
• Memorial Drive Elementary reported fewer ant
  sightings

13
Tools for Schools

• Wins
• Teachers and staff are much more comfortable in
  their cleaner environment
• Valley Oaks Elementary custodians commented on
  the ease of cleaning the tidier, clutter-free
  rooms

14
To Conclude

• Tools for Schools is by no means a one time
  thing. It is an ongoing process
• Start-up was a great success
• Mothers for Clean Air has been instrumental in
  the planning and implementation of this great
  program