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

  • Fort Collins to Convert 1980s Office Park into Junior High School

    The Liberty Common School, a charter-public school in Fort Collins, Colo., recently broke ground on an adaptive reuse project that will convert an 1980s-era office park into a 45,000-square-foot junior high school for seventh- and eighth-grade students, according to a news release.

  • UT-Austin Breaks Ground on 17-Story Business School

    The University of Texas at Austin recently broke ground on a new, 17-story facility that will serve as the new home for the school’s McCombs School of Business, according to university news. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 10 for Mulva Hall, which will include amenities like classrooms, academic department suites, research centers, faculty offices, the dean’s office, and gathering spaces.

  • Aims Community College to Build Workforce Innovation Center

    Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., recently announced that it has broken ground on its new Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC), according to a news release. The facility for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education has a scheduled opening date of fall 2026.

  • IFMA Appoints New President & CEO

    The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), based in Houston, Texas, recently announced its appointment of Michael Geary, CAE, as its new President & CEO, according to a news release. Geary’s previous role was as CEO of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and the SMPS Foundation.