How Healthy Schools Save Money

Healthy SchoolsThe Healthy Facilities Award is designed to help schools everywhere become healthier, both physically and fiscally, by showcasing facilities that model healthful, safe indoor environments, along with budget benefits, in areas such as indoor air quality, chemical exposure, water quality, sound levels, lighting, cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing and foodservice, integrated pest management, ergonomics, classrooms, HVAC and ceilings, furniture, restrooms, floors, stairs, drinking fountains, cafeterias, foodservice, locker rooms and security.

Award levels include Gold Standard of Excellence, Silver Standard of Excellence and Healthy Facilities Advocate.

The program, developed by School Planning & Management (SP&M) and College Planning & Management (CP&M) magazines, in partnership with the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI), will recognize leaders selected from pK-12, highereducation and other institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to better learning environments based on the application of well-established principles of healthy indoor environments as shown in the Healthy and Safe FacilityHandbook.

Why is this important? According to Dr. David Mudarri, HFI advisory board member: “A healthy mind and healthy body go together. Available research shows improved indoor environments can have a profound effect on human health, enhancing ability to learn and test scores.”

Moreover, healthy schools do not cost — they pay. To download your entry form or to access the Healthy and Safe Facility Handbook, visit spaces4learning.com/HFA. There is no fee to enter, and the process will help you advance on the path to both physical and fiscal health.

Featured

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    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.

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    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.

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    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.