This article examines 7 key components of healthy school environments as well as emerging scientific insights about how our physical environments impact students’ health and academic performance.
Northampton MA –News Direct-Delos
How to create a positive school environment for students and staff well-being
The average American child spends six hours each day playing. 1,000 hours per year spent in schoolDuring a time when they are more vulnerable to environmental influences. Many school buildings are outdated and not up-to-date, which can lead to substandard conditions and environments that do not support student growth. Schools can be made healthier by leveraging their physical environment and implementing preventive measures.
Delos recognizes that this is a great opportunity to support the health and well-being of students, educators, staff and others with profound societal impact both now and in the near future. We will address two key questions in this article:
Schools have been trying to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two year, and the indoor environment has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce risk beyond Covid.
This resource gives an overview of healthy school environments as well as new scientific insights about how physical environments can impact students’ academic performance and health. We also discuss psychological and social factors that could impact student success. We also offer evidence-based strategies that can easily be implemented in prekindergarten (preK), school, and university buildings to promote well-being and health for all.
The State of School Facilities Today
There are approximately 137,000 educational institutions in America today. A typical high school graduate will have spent over 15,000 hours in school by the time they graduate. The 2020-2021 academic school year will see 56.6 million students attend pre-K through high schools, and 19.7 millions enroll in higher education institutions.
These students spend significant time in conditions that do not promote their health or performance. This is because early childhood experiences rapid and extensive development of organs, systems, and natural defenses against potential toxin. This makes it a critical period for a child’s future health. The average age of U.S. public schools was 52 in 2012. 44 yearsThe average age since renovation was 12 Years. Older buildings are more susceptible to having problems that can be fixed. Student health can be negatively impactedThey may not be in compliance with the most recent building standards or best practices. Without extensive preventative maintenance, conditions can become worse.
7 Environmental Factors That Affect Student Health & Academic Performance. Strategies to Address Them
Many factors at school can have an impact on the health of students, teachers, and staff. These include indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting, material composition, and noise levels. This overview highlights the main factors that can impact academic performance and health in learning environments.
Schools can develop comprehensive strategies to promote student health and well-being by focusing on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and using science-informed methods. This approach can be used to guide learning in the aftermath and during the Covid-19 epidemic. These measures will guide schools in making environmental and behavioral improvements based on research, lessons learned, and opportunities to reframe learning environment.
1. Indoor Air Quality
Infiltration of outdoor pollutants like particulate matter, allergens, and mold as well as indoor-generated pollutants such as carbon dioxide, all pose health risksThese situations require mitigation or prevention.
These risks aren’t managed well by schools, according to an estimate 41% of school districts must updateReplace heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), systems in at least half their schools. This is approximately 36,000 public schools (grades Kindergarten-12) across the country.
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Increase VentilationBringing in fresh air from outside can help to reduce indoor pollutant concentrations. Studies with schoolchildren have shown that increased ventilation can significantly improve academic performance at low capital and energy costs. One study showed that classrooms can be provided with twice the amount of outdoor air. Improved schoolwork performanceBy around 8%
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Filtered AirCleaner air can have a significant impact upon student and staff health, performance, and overall wellbeing. Indoor air purifiers can reduce indoor pollutants by actively filtering it. A study found that four portable air purifiers were effective in reducing the concentrations of aerosols in indoor air. More than 90%A classroom with an air exchange rate of 5.55 h1 was able to achieve the same results in 30 minutes.
Different air purification techniques can target different types and types of pollutants. Delos Advanced Air Purification solutionsUtilize disinfecting filtration systems (DFS) technology to capture and remove particles as small as 0.007 microns smaller than the virus that causes Covid-19, at 99.99% aggregate efficiency.*
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Monitor Indoor Air QualityIndoor air quality monitors can be used to track particulate matter pollution in the school’s air. Schools can determine the best way to improve their indoor air quality by analyzing the identified issues. There are many consumer-grade monitors that can be used online.
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Monitor Outdoor Air Quality: Outdoor air pollutants can easily enter through windows and doors, cracks in walls, doors, and window sealants. It is important to monitor the local air quality using real-time monitoring tools. Check resources like AirNowOr BreezometerFor real-time outdoor air quality information. If the outdoor air quality drops, close all classroom windows and turn off the AC unit.
2. Water Access and Quality
Even mild to moderate levels of dehydration can lead you to. Performance problemsTasks that require attention, memory, and psychomotor skills.
It is important that students have access to safe drinking water. Contaminants such as lead, have been shown to be linked to learning and behavior problems, hyperactivity, low IQ, and slow growth among children.
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Increase Access to Drinking WaterEnsure that students have access to clean drinking water throughout school. Schools can improve water access depending on their specific needs.
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Regular water quality testing: Regular water quality testing is vital to ensure students have safe drinking water. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia had these tests. Lead testing programs2018 school water regulations
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Regular maintenanceEnsure that drinking water access points, such as water fountains, are maintained and cleaned regularly. This helps reduce the risk of bacterial contamination, and makes drinking water stations more appealing for students.
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Filter water: Water quality concerns can be mitigated by filtration. Different types of filtersDifferent types of contaminants are addressed by different filters. You should choose water filters that are suitable for the particular water quality concerns at a school.
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Soften WaterHard water, which is water that has too many minerals like calcium, can sometimes taste bad. This can make it difficult for children to drink enough water. Water softeners can filter out these minerals to improve the taste and appearance.
3. Lighting
Students can be affected by the lighting they are exposed to during school hours. Health, well-being, Performance Sleep. High quality lightingIt is essential that schoolchildren are able to properly read and see the material being taught. Lighting can also impact academic outcomes of children through circadian pathways that support. Alertness cognitive performance.
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Use Tunable LightingIndoor electric lighting can now be adjusted using specialized lighting fixtures and controls. To support, use light that is similar in appearance to natural daylight (brighter, more neutral-toned light) during daytime. Alertness and cognitive performance.
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Shades for open windowsEnsure that you maximize natural daylight but close shades to reduce daylight exposure during naptime (pre-K students).
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Increase SafetyGood lighting can make students feel safer at school and reduce violence. Research has shownThere is an indirect correlation between violence and illumination in educational settings. Illuminated non-classroom areas could serve as deterrents to bad behavior by increasing awareness of the consequences.
4. Thermal Environment
Young children are more vulnerableto the effects on extreme temperatures and ambient humidity levels. Our ability to regulate temperature and humidity is greatly affected by both. Thermal comfort. Too hot or too cold temperatures, as well as humidity levels that are too high or low, can have a negative impact on our health. Students are less likely to perform at their best when they are not comfortable. Studies consistently show that children prefer cooler climates and are more vulnerable to higher temperatures. Their performance will be affected in school.
A study of 75,000 students from New York City high schools found that students were actually more likely to be successful than their peers.
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Invest in reliable Heating and Cooling Systems: Proper heating and cooling systemsSchools can be vital in creating a warm and comfortable environment. They can also improve health.
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Buy Humidifiers and DehumidifiersInvesting in humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help maintain optimal humidity levels and create a comfortable thermal environment. Schools can either install whole-building humidification or use portable humidifiers or dehumidifiers.
5. Noise
Noise is sound that is harmful or unwanted. Chronic exposure to noiseIt has been linked to Harmful physiological effectsAs well as being annoying, noise can also cause increased levels of irritability and stress. Noise is also associated mit Poorer academic performanceThese include difficulty in performing cognitive tasks, decreased attentional concentration, and Performance problemsYou can take a variety of literacy, numeracy or speed tests.
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Get Sound InsulationSchools should consider installing Sound-absorbing panelsHigher up on classroom walls, installing sound-reducing windows and good quality seals on doorsways. Also, replacing ceiling tiles with NRC-rated acoustic tiles with high-noise coefficient (NRC).
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HVAC Systems Can Make NoiseBackground noise can be significantly increased by noisy HVAC systems. Schools should have noisy HVAC systems serviced or replaced with quieter systems.
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Timetables for SchoolConsider reserving certain hours of the day for quiet activities and designating specific areas of school for them. This will help maintain a peaceful environment for students.
6. Biophilia
Biophilia is our Nature’s inherent desire to connectinteractions with nature and other forms of life. There is substantial evidence to show that interaction with nature has many benefits. feeling calmer, focusing less Negatives, Chronic stress causes slower body breakdownAnd it’s even better Overall health and well being. The benefits of exposure to nature and greenery have been linked to Improved physical Mental healthStudents have reported improved recovery from stress and mental fatigue, ADHD symptoms, lower aggression, and higher standardized tests scores. This has also led to a restoration of attention capacity and ADHD symptoms. Many schools don’t have enough greenery.
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Integrate Natural Elements Indoors: Natural elements in the classroomIt can help students focus better and increase their academic performance. Schools can also consider adding virtual biophilia to their classrooms if it is not possible to bring in living greenery. It took only 40 seconds to see a picture of a flowering green roof compared to a concrete roof. Boost attention and task performance.
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Use nature-based educationUsing nature-based education, outdoor learning, has been associated with better cognition and mood. Field trips are a great way of strengthening your connection with nature and the outdoors.
The benefits of being near nature and greenery have been linked to improved mental and physical health.
7. Materials
Hazardous materialsBuilding systems, furniture, cleaning supplies, and finishes can all contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as lead and asbestos. These chemicals and toxinsCould have Health risksThere are many causes, including skin irritation, neurological issues, learning disabilities and endocrine disruption, as well as cancer.
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Avoid Harmful Materials: Builders should avoid products and materials containing toxic heavy metals, such as lead, and use safer options.
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Purchase IEQ-Safe Products: Many toys, cleaning products and furniture can be replaced with safer, non-toxic alternatives. Certifications of products, such as Green Seal Greenguard GoldThese materials can be used to identify materials that promote good IEQ.
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Ventilation must be maintained at a sufficient levelBringing in fresh air outdoors can reduce the concentrations VOCs and particulate matter.
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Purification of the AirAir purifiers designed to reduce harmful gaseous pollutant such as VOCs should be considered. It is important that you note that not all purification technologies can remove gaseous contaminants. This is why it is important to verify before purchasing any air purifier.
Delos Intellipure Compact air purifiersFor example, a 6-stage VOC Adsorption Filter is used to remove harmful gases and odors. A patented disinfecting filter system (DFS), which captures and deactivates bacteria and viruses as well as traps particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), is also available.
Delos and Covid-19 Mitigation on Education
Delos has been working with universities and schools all over the globe to identify research-backed solutions for the education sector in response the Covid-19 pandemic. integrate air purificationtechnologies that reduce the airborne pathogens. Delos has provided more than 230,000 services to date. Delos Intellipure Compact air purifiers(Delos Compact) to schools in Australia, Canada, and the U.S.
Additionally, the Well Living Lab, a collaboration between Delos and Mayo Clinic, conducted a simulated, Real-world classroom studiesThis is a demonstration of the ability of portable air purifiers to reduce aerosol deposition, concentration and dispersion within a classroom setting. The studyIt was found that:
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Portable air purification units improve the air quality in any room.
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Hot spots are common in nearly all rooms. Portable air purifiers reduce this concern.
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Portable air purification units can reduce the risk of surface and airborne transmission.
Delos Advanced Air Purification Solutions can capture fine particles and reduce the amount of particles that could carry bacteria or viruses. The units are portable and can be used in schools without the need to make any changes or upgrades to existing HVAC systems.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund).
Many school and district officials have worked to improve the indoor air quality of their schools, both before and after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Education introduced the American Rescue Plan in March 2021. It allocated $122 billion to the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) Fund, which provides emergency funding for K-12 schools. The ESSER Fund is available to improve the air quality of charter schools, private charter schools, and non-profit private charter schools, in order to create healthier learning environments for students, teachers, and staff.
ESSER funding can help you purchase air purification technology to improve indoor air quality in your school or district. Delos offers Advanced Air Purification solutions, which are trusted by some America’s most prestigious school districts (New York City Public School Systems, Chicago Public School Systems), in order to support healthier learning environments. All Delos Advanced Air Purification Solutions (including filter replacements) available on Delos ShopYou are eligible to receive ESSER funding
You can find more information about the ESSER Funds, and how they might be used, at the FAQs about ESSER FundsThe U.S. Department of Education.
Create a healthy school environment for your community
The school environment can impact students’ learning, health, and well-being in profound ways. The next generation has a responsibility to improve our understanding of how learning environments affect people and their health. Schools can make the best environment possible for students by incorporating best-practice guidelines and current research.
Delos bridges between evidence-based science, everyday awareness, and everyday health to support its mission to promote enhanced health and wellbeing in the places where we live and learn, work, and play. The Mayo Clinic and Delos collaboration founded the Delos Institute. Well Living LabThe public is invited to learn about the effects of indoor environments on human and animal health.
Delos is committed towards promoting healthy indoor environments by sharing our knowledge, learning continuously, and developing innovative products and solutions based on research. Find out how we can help. Make your school a healthier place today.
*Individual particle sizes and specific particle size ranges may have different filtration efficiency rates.
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