Grantee Research Project Results

2018 Progress Report: Sustainable Places, Health and Educational Research in Schools (SPHEReS)

EPA Grant Number: R835635
Title: Sustainable Places, Health and Educational Research in Schools (SPHEReS)
Investigators: Cross, Jennifer E , Reynolds, Stephen J. , Dunbar, Brian , Magzamen, Sheryl
Current Investigators: Cross, Jennifer E , Reynolds, Stephen J. , Dunbar, Brian , Magzamen, Sheryl , Manning, Dale , Suter, Jordan , Schaeffer, Joshua
Institution: Colorado State University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: March 2, 2015 through March 1, 2019 (Extended to March 1, 2020)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 2, 2018 through March 1,2019
Project Amount: $999,387
RFA: Healthy Schools: Environmental Factors, Children’s Health and Performance, and Sustainable Building Practices (2013) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

Objective(s) of the Research

1. Determine if new, sustainably built schools and sustainably retrofitted schools have a positive impact on human performance, including student health, student academic achievement, employee health, and work satisfaction compared to conventional school buildings.
2. Examine how features of sustainable buildings that improve environmental quality mediate the relationship between improved air quality and student and teacher health and performance.
3. Determine return on investment for sustainable building design and construction in terms of human performance measures.

Progress Summary:

Progress Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes)

Between September 2018 and May 2019, the projectcollected post-renovation IAQ and IEQ data at the nine Adams 12 elementary schools sampled prior to renovation from Fall 2017 through Spring 2018. Sampling locations were identical to pre-renovation locations, with the exception of those in STEM Lab. Due to demolition of prerenovation rooms sampled in STEM Lab, for post-renovation data, we sampled those rooms that had the greatest overlap of students to the rooms sampled pre-renovation. As with pre-renovation sampling, at each school, the projectsampled three classrooms, one common space, and the roof (IAQ data only for roof). The researchersalso collected pre-renovation IAQ and IEQ data at one K-8 school (STEM Launch) and one high school (Northglenn). While the projectintended to re-sample these two schools this fall, post-renovation, due to inadequate funds, the researchersinstead focused these sampling efforts on supporting the problem-based learning labs (see below) conducted in these schools.

IEQ Assessment

IEQ data werecollected at all 11 schools in the four interior sampling locations. The data included lighting levels, lighting technical specifications, daylighting features, flooring and wall finishes, acoustics, and occupant controls. In addition, Adams 12 operations staff provided school-level specifications (including HVAC systems, cleaning practices, and energy management) practices for each of the nine schools, reflecting both pre- and post-renovation conditions.

IAQ Measurement & Verification

The project successfully deployed the IAQ air sampling stations and collected data for post evaluation in nine schools. In each school, the projectsampled three classrooms, one common area, and one outdoor (roof) area at each school. Sampling, conducted over two occupied days (Thursday and Friday) and over the weekend to collect unoccupied data, included the following analytes: VOCs, aldehydes (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde), NO/NO2 (NOx), CO/CO2, PM2.5, PM10, PM4, and PM100 in addition to temperature and relative humidity. Minor challenges impacted data collection, including wet/windy weather. Gravimetric analyses on particulate samples have been completed. Additional analyses (HPLC/UV for aldehydes, GC-MS for VOCs, ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry for NOx) are being conducted and future analyses include endotoxin and B-glucan analyses on particulate matter collected on filters.

Geocoding has been completed using 111,545 student home addresses spanning the four years (2011 - 2014) of student standardized test data provided to the team (the school district was unable to provide student socioeconomic data). Each of the 82% of addresses located within the Adams 12 district boundary has been assigned community-level environmental indicators (including oil and gas well sites, interstates, and sum of road lengths within home buffers).

Problem-based Learning (PBL) Labs

Throughout Fall 2018, 13 teachers and instructional designers across three schools (STEM Lab, STEM Launch, and Northglenn High) collaborated with us to develop problembased learning units focused on indoor environmental quality. The projectled two informational sessions and ongoing consulting to help teachers maximize students' learning experiences. The researchersdelivered educational presentations to students; developing IEQ/IAQ data tracking sheets and instructions; developed and provided a survey to gather student perceptions of IAQ/IEQ and health; and provided IEQ/IAQ assessment tools that Adams 12 now has on-hand for future use (both by Facilities and students). STEM Lab brought its students to CSU, where students visited labs to see how IAQ analyses are conducted. Use of the survey and tools varied across PBL classes, and this summer, the researchersare requesting that teachers share data gathered by their students; inthe fall, the projectwill meet with teachers to discuss the potential for integrating IEQ/IAQ into their 2019-20 PBLs.

Future Activities:

IAQ/IEQ data collection for our school has been completed. The project's research goals are to compare the IAQ/IEQ constituents listed above to determine if 1) the renovations resulted in meaningful differences in constituent levels, and 2) if the changes in constituents resulted in changes in student performance or student health (as measured by absenteeism). In addition to these analyses, the IAQ team will focus on three manuscripts with the student records data:

• A mediation analysis to determine if student health (as measured by absenteeism) mediates the relation between IAQ/IEQ and test scores, using the initial Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) operations report card (ORC).
• A quantile regression analysis to determine if higher IAQ/IEQ differentially benefits students depending on where student scores lie on the distribution of test scores.
• Using the sociodemographic information from the US Census, evaluating if students who are exposed to lower air quality at home are also exposed to lower air quality at school.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 16 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Supplemental Keywords Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Environmental Quality, green schools, community-based research, health effects, public schools, student performance, teacher health, sustainable schools, cost benefit, sociology, epidemiology, agricultural and resource economics, built environment, modelling, western region, Colorado, CO, EPA Region 8

Relevant Websites:

Colorado State University - Institute for the Built Environment Exit
Jennifer E. Cross Bio Exit
Stephen J. Reynolds, Ph.D. Bio
Sheryl L. Magzamen, Ph.D. Bio
Dr. Dale Manning Bio

 

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2015 Progress Report

2016 Progress Report

2017 Progress Report

Final Report