Our schools are an investment in our communities and our communities’ futures. Maintaining school facilities is a key part of that investment, and many people across our state work very hard at it.
School facilities can also have a huge impact on health. How they are maintained (the building and school grounds), renovated, constructed, and even decisions about where to locate new schools can affect students and staff in big ways because they spend so much time at school.
To learn more, check out the resources below. Also, please see our Cleaning and Integrated Pest Management pages on this website.
Facilities Maintenance and Construction Resources
Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools, U.S. EPA
Packed with information including the IAQ Tools for Schools program and free on-demand webinar series. Includes guidance on preventative maintenance and strategies for school construction and renovation issues.
https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools
Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools, U.S. EPA
A resource to help school districts and facility planners as they design, renovate, and construct schools. Includes topics such as preliminary design phases, controlling pollutants and sources, HVAC systems, moisture control, operations and maintenance, and more.
https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-design-tools-schools
Protecting Indoor Air Quality During School Energy Efficiency Retrofit Projects with Energy Savings Plus Health Guidelines, U.S. EPA
Information to help school districts protect indoor air quality while making energy efficiency retrofits and other building upgrade projects. Page includes how well-planned and coordinated school energy and indoor air quality programs can save money, as well as on-demand webinar trainings.
Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades, U.S. EPA
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-10/documents/energy_savings_plus_health_guideline.pdf
Greenguard
A certification program for products meeting industry standards for low chemical emissions. It includes cleaning products, furniture, flooring, electronic equipment, and more.
https://www.ul.com/services/ul-greenguard-certification
School Renovation and Construction: What you Need to Know to Protect Child and Adult Environmental Health, Healthy Schools Network, 2012
https://www.healthyschools.org/data/files/Renovation_and_Construction_Guide_%202021.pdf
U.S. Green Building Council
The organization that administers the LEED certification program
Design Guidance for Education Facilities: Prioritization for Advanced Indoor Air Quality, ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7, Educational Facilities, 2023
Provides technical guidance to owners, operators, designers, and other professionals on best practices for implementing indoor air quality improvements in schools, including risk mitigation strategies. Applicable to existing and new facilities.
https://greenstrides.org/sites/default/files/Design-Guidance-for-Education-Facilities.pdf
School Siting Guidelines, U.S. EPA, 2011
Important considerations for locating new school buildings focusing on the health and safety of future occupants and the entire community.
https://www.epa.gov/schools/view-download-or-print-school-siting-guidelines
Best Practices Manual, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
A technical resource to assist schools, districts, and practitioners with school design, construction, and operation that maximizes health, well-being, and performance of students, educators, and staff.
https://chps.net/best-practices-manual
Air Sensor Technology and Indoor Air Quality, U.S. EPA
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-sensor-technology-and-indoor-air-quality?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Wyoming’s Pesticides in Schools Statute 35-7-375
https://www.wyoleg.gov/2001/engross/hb0028.htm
An explanation of the statute and its requirements to post signs and notify staff and students about pesticide application on school grounds is available at https://www.uwyo.edu/ipm/community-ipm/notification.html
Wyoming Healthy Schools 