Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Two Illinois Public Schools Gain Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/19/24

IAQ monitoring systems solutions provider Attune and the Illinois Chapter of ASHRAE recently partnered to provide new equipment to two K–12 public schools in Western Springs, Ill. Forest Hills Elementary School and McClure Junior High received Attune IAQ monitoring systems as part of an ASHRAE sustainability research project that began in February 2024.

The three-year initiative will include sensor installation to collect breathing data in areas like classrooms, libraries, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. It also entails workshops and educational materials for the district community, according to a news release. The monitoring devices will measure levels of airborne pollutants and maximize HVAC efficiency. Teachers, administrators, and even students will all have access to degrees of real-time and real-life data within the Attune online platform.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work with D101 and ASHRAE to help educate students on indoor air quality in Chicago,” said Attune Co-Founder and CEO Serene Almomen. “The research from this project will improve the learning environments for students and teachers and the future of Chicago education.”

The research project will conclude in February 2027. ASHRAE will share annual results with the school district and will also compile a case study to be featured at the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Las Vegas, the news release reports.

“This project combines the science and research from ASHRAE and the latest technology from Attune. It creates an excellent educational opportunity for the public schools in the district and is a leap forward in continuing education for the future generation,” said Sumayyah Theron, ASHRAE Sustainability Project Chair. “This sustainability project will help showcase indoor air quality in schools and will open up a dialogue on methods to improve it. Indoor air quality is an important component for healthy environments.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract representation of hybrid learning environment

    The Permanence of Change: Why Hybrid Is the New Baseline

    Hybrid learning is here to stay, and it's reshaping how campus spaces function.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.