|
|
Partnering in programs and events since 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CEFPI share the goal of improving the indoor air quality in school facilities to ensure the health, safety and performance of students and staff. The Council is committed to strengthening public awareness on these issues and has encouraged and supported the implementation of the IAQ TfS program in schools across the nation.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping public organizations, businesses of all sizes, and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
The US EPA provides K-12 schools with guidelines for superior energy management built on the practices of leading ENERGY STAR partner organizations. School districts across the country are using these guidelines, along with the accompanying tools and resources, to save energy, lower operating costs, improve student and staff comfort, and protect the environment. Leading schools are eligible for national recognition from EPA.
When school districts become more energy efficient, they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants – which, in turn improves the quality of the air in our communities.
Does Temperature Impact Student Performance? Learn What EPA Award Winners Found Out
New EPA Rules to Reduce Emissions from Incineration Units
|
 |
|
Watch out for the CEFPI and US EPA, Indoor Environments Division scholarship opportunity to learn more about healthy, high performing school facilities.
This scholarship is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Agency to improve the indoor air quality and learning environment of schools throughout the Nation.
|
 |
2006 Children's Environmental Health Excellence Awards
The Office of Children's Health Protection at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently accepting applications for the 2006 Children's Environmental Health Excellence Awards. The awards are designed to increase awareness, stimulate activity, and recognize efforts that protect children from environmental health risks at the local, regional, national, and international level.
The Children's Environmental Health Excellence Award is divided into five categories. You may apply under only one category. These include Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Corporate, Individual, and K-12 and Higher Education. EPA will be looking for projects that significantly impact children's environmental health issues through research; indicators; capacity building; regulatory and policy innovations; education and outreach; and interventions.
The OCHP will honor the award winners during the School Building Week 2006 Partner Reception to take place at the Army Navy Club, Washington, DC, April 20.
Due to the hectic holiday schedule and overwhelming requests to extend the deadline to apply for the 2006 Children's Environmental Health Excellence Awards, EPA is pleased to announce that they have extended the deadline until January 2, 2006.
Download an application, or for further information or to receive a hard copy of the application, call 202.862.1257.
|
 |
7th Annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium
December 7-9, 2006. Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host its 7th Annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium on December 7-9, 2006, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. Building on past success, the Symposium will bring together school board officials, school administrators, school nurses, teachers, facility managers, school and health association members, parents, and others to discuss indoor air quality (IAQ) in our nation's schools.
The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program is a nationwide initiative to help school officials assess, resolve, and prevent indoor air quality problems and reduce exposure to asthma triggers in school facilities. Innovative sessions will be held on various topics associated with effectively implementing the IAQ TfS Program as well as financing IAQ upgrades, asthma management in schools, communications strategies, and more. In addition, EPA will present this year's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Excellence Awards to honor qualifying schools for exemplary IAQ programs.
As an EPA, Indoor Environments Partner, CEFPI contributes to the program and sponsors members to attend the event. This year, CEFPI will sponsor approximately 20 individuals to attend the Symposium. This scholarship includes reasonable traveling expenses, lodging and meals not included in the Symposium, and the registration fee. The CEFPI sponsored attendees agree to attend the entire program, distribute the information and implement good indoor air quality management practices in schools.
Please complete the attached form to apply and register for the Symposium. CEFPI will cover expenses for qualifying members including travel, lodging, and the Symposium registration fee. The registration fee of $310 includes three (3) breakfasts, two (2) lunches, hors d'oeuvres at the Awards Ceremony, and non-alcoholic refreshments.
Individuals who fail to attend the symposium following selection and acceptance of the scholarship agreement will be solely responsible to reimburse CEFPI of any travel and /or hotel accommodation expenses incurred by the Council
The Symposium Web site (www.iaqsymposium.com) describes in detail the breakout sessions, agenda, the conference hotel, directions to the hotel, and Washington, DC, attractions in close proximity to the hotel.
Applications are due Monday, September 25, 2006. No late entries will be entertained.
Please send or fax to:
Sarat Pratapchandran
Research & Grants Coordinator
Council of Educational Facility Planners International
9180 East Desert Cove Drive, Suite 104
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Phone: 480-391-0840
Fax: 480-391-0940
sarat@cefpi.org
|
 |
|
Alleviating poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is a priority for CEFPI since nearly 56 million people spend a significant portion of their days inside elementary and secondary schools. To show our commitment to this issue, CEFPI has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program. This program offers resources and guidance to help schools identify IAQ problems using a practical, cost-effective, step-by-step approach. To continue to promote awareness about IAQ, EPA has created the IAQ TfS Awards Program that provides incentives and public recognition to schools and school districts that are implementing IAQ management programs. Three award categories are offered: Great Start, Leadership, and, Excellence, which honor schools and schools districts as they progress through the various stages of program implementation. We encourage our members to apply for these awards and seek recognition for their efforts to improve children's health in our nation's schools.
Visit the new EPA IAQ TfS Awards Program Web site to see other CEFPI members who have received recognition from EPA. This site will also allow you to download a new application form, review application deadlines, and learn more about the IAQ TfS Awards Program.
|
 |
|
Building a Better World 10% at a Time
Schools across the United States are facing higher energy prices this winter. Currently, the nation's 17,000 K-12 schools spend $1.3 billion on heating bills during the winter months – a cost that may rise by nearly 40 percent this year. This increase alone is equivalent to more than 10,000 teacher salaries.
However, school districts can save up to 30 percent on their energy bills each year while preventing greenhouse gas emissions and improving learning environments through cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.
Through the ENERGY STAR Challenge, school decision-makers assess how much energy school districts use now, establish efficiency improvement goals of 10 percent or greater district-wide, and make efficiency improvements wherever cost effective. EPA will recognize individual school districts that achieve a 10, 20, or 30 percent improvement as ENERGY STAR Leaders.
To date, the following six school districts have earned the ENERGY STAR Leaders distinction: Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Rochester City School District, Rochester, New York; South Colonie Central School District, Albany, New York; Independent School District 197, Mendota Heights, Minnesota; Gresham-Barlow School District, Oregon; and York County School Division, Virginia.
Click here for more information on the ENERGY STAR Challenge and K-12 schools.
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for K-12 Schools
EPA's energy performance rating system, which is available through Portfolio Manager, will rate the energy efficiency of your K-12 school buildings on a scale from 1 to 100. The system allows you to measure the energy performance of your facilities and compare them with similar buildings across the United States. Using data that you provide online, the system produces a baseline rating.
Target Finder
Target Finder is an internet-based tool that helps you manage energy during the design of a new building. With Target Finder you can set an aggressive energy performance target for a building design and compare your estimated energy consumption to the established target. Target Finder provides an energy performance target rating for whole-building energy use.
|
 |
|
The ENERGY STAR Management Web Conferences are held regularly on the third Wednesday of the month fro 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. (EST). Each monthly Web conference is structured around a different energy management topic that provides a starting point for discussion. The Web conferences are convened for the benefit of ENERGY STAR Partners and provide a forum for sharing successful energy management practices.
For an excellent way to learn what leading energy management programs are doing without having to leave your office,
sign up for the monthly web conference of your choice.
For more information about ENERGY STAR Web Conferences and Networking events, please visit www.energystar.gov/networking.
|
 |
|
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing a new, completely voluntary, and fully customizable tool to help school districts conduct self-assessments of their school facilities for potential environmental health and safety hazards. The heart of the tool is a powerful database file that will let school districts modify the tool to manage all aspects of a facility assessment program. The tool comes pre-loaded with a checklist that integrates all of EPA's voluntary and regulatory programs for schools, and is designed so that states and school districts can incorporate their own policies and programs, producing a customized checklist and reference guidebook. Learn more about the draft Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool and download the Beta Version for testing.
EPA is accepting input from organizations and individuals on the draft tool until May 5, 2005.
|
 |
Watch the Clean School Bus USA website as EPA readies to give the green light on the next round of cost-shared grant funding totaling $7.5 million for fiscal year 2005. The official solicitation announcement will be posted in the spring of 2005. School districts (and federally recognized tribes which operate schools) only are eligible for this solicitation. School districts should get a head start with assessing fleets by gathering information on the make and age of engines, as well as the number of students riding the bus. They should begin making contacts for solicitation support and start thinking about writing a letter of intent for how the school district would like to partner in EPA's mission to clean up diesel exhaust. Clean School Bus USA is excited about continuing its venture in awarding school bus grants and anticipates a record number of applications this year. Keep checking out the Grants/Funding section of the Clean School Bus USA Website regularly to get information on application requirements and due dates.
|
 |
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program: Benefits of Improving Air Quality in the School Environment
A new full-color brochure with sections that highlight the range of benefits of using the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program. The sections include successful outcomes in schools (health benefits and cost savings), research on IAQ and schools (cost savings, performance, health effects), mold, asthma and a detailed reference section.
EPA Product Number [EPA-402-K-02-005, October 2002]
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Communications Guide
The Communications Guide offers ideas and resources for developing and carrying out activities that communicate the benefits of participating in an indoor air quality (IAQ) management program. This practical guide is designed to help members of a school's IAQ team communicate — both internally and externally. Good communication helps your team gain the continuing support of key stakeholders, making your team's job easier. Raising awareness of good IAQ practices among administrators, school board members, the community, teachers and the local media will build support for your team's efforts to improve trust and collaboration while decreasing liability.
EPA Product Number [EPA-402-K-02-008, January 2003]
|
