IAQ, Schools & Government
According to the EPA, improving IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) in schools can help:
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Reduce absenteeism
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Improve student and staff concentration
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Improve student productivity and performance
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Decrease IAQ-related health risks from exposure to indoor pollutants
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Reduce environmental triggers of asthma
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Reduce respiratory illness
Schools
Our HVAC systems save energy and create healthy comfortable environments by increasing outside air ventilation up to 100% for the same or less tonnage as a conventional air handling system. Our systems are perfect for HVAC upgrades and retrofits, as well as new construction.
How Berner Energy Recovery fits with LEED for Schools:
Our systems can help a school project satisfy 4 Prerequisites and achieve up to 24* points!
* Does not include Regional Priority Credits.
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Energy & Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance
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Energy & Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite 3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management
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Energy & Atmosphere (EA) Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance, worth 1-19 points
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Energy & Atmosphere (EA) Credit 4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management, worth 1 point
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Prerequisite 1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Prerequisite 3: Minimum Acoustical Performance
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 2: Increased Ventilation, worth 1 point
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort Design, worth 1 point
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance, worth 1 point
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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 10: Mold Prevention, worth 1 point
See Regional Priority Credit: to find out what credits address geographically specific environmental priorities for your school.
For more information Berner Energy Recovery systems and LEED rating systems, click here.
Click here for more information from the USGBC on Green Schools.
The EPA has an entire program and web site dedicated to Healthy Schools called“IAQ Tools for Schools.”
“The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems. Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.”
For information on possible funding sources for your HVAC upgrades, click here for state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote the energy efficiency of buildings.
Government
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Federal entities such as the Armed Services and the GSA, as well as more and more state and local governments, are requiring various levels of LEED certification for all major renovations and new construction. Our HVAC systems are a perfect fit for projects like these. For information on federal, state and local government LEED certification requirements, click here.
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For a quick guide of how Berner’s energy recovery systems may assist in meeting the different government requirements and guidelines such as EPAct 2005, Executive Orders 13423 & 13514, The Whole Building Design Guide, Energy Star High Performance Buildings and LEED, click here.
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Schools are also eligible for Federal & State Government money for School Facilities Modernization projects.