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  • Why should schools take indoor air quality seriously?

    The quality of the indoor air can either impede or assist a school in meeting its core mission -- educating students. Failure to prevent or quickly resolve problems can: Increase the potential for short-term and long-term health problems like asthma, the number one cause of student absenteeism

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  • Does carpet cause indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in schools?

    Carpet use in schools provides a decrease in noise, falls, and injuries. IAQ problems can be encountered with carpet and many other materials if the school has any type of water intrusion or moisture problem, such as a leaky roof. If carpeting remains damp, it can become a primary source for

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  • What does it cost to fix schools?

    The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Program advocates for proactive measures, and the majority of the recommendations in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit are either low cost or no cost. These low- and no-cost actions will help to minimize the extent and frequency of costly repairs

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  • What about mold in large buildings?

    EPA has a number of resources available: Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers - Appendix C - Moisture, Mold and Mildew Read the publication "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings Read the publication, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home"

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  • What are the basic mold cleanup steps?

    The key to mold control is moisture control. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown

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  • What is a HEPA filter?

    HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air [filter]" (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy). This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a

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  • What is EPA doing about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Schools?

    EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools Program is devoted to providing outreach products and services to schools to help them create and maintain healthy indoor environments and implementation is a top priority and teaches school staff to: Prevent and resolve IAQ problems; Identify practical and low-cost/no

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  • Is Indoor airPLUS a green building program?

    No. Indoor airPLUS is not a comprehensive green building program because it is specifically focused on indoor air quality. However, Indoor airPLUS is a companion label to the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program and homes that receive certification are also more energy efficient. To improve the value

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  • To whom do I send completed Indoor airPLUS verification checklists?

    File each completed Indoor airPLUS Verification Checklist with the rating file for the qualified home, according to your Rating Provider's requirements. Keep them with the completed ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3 Inspection Checklists. There is no need to send them to EPA. Check to see if

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  • Are There Indoor airPLUS Labels, Plaques, and Certificates? How Can I Get Them?

    EPA provides Indoor airPLUS labels to accredited HERS Providers. The label is applied to the electrical panel of each home beside the ENERGY STAR label. An Indoor airPLUS certificate should also be provided to the homeowner at the time of occupancy and can be printed by Raters or Providers with

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  • What units does EPA use to report laboratory analysis results (drinking water, air filter and precipitation)?

    EPA reports RadNet laboratory results in conventional units, as shown below with their international equivalents: Medium Conventional unit International SI unit Air Filter Curie (Ci) per cubic meter (m3) Becquerel (Bq) per cubic meter (m3) Precipitation and drinking water Curie (Ci) per liter (L)

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  • When do states need to implement the 2017 PAG Manual?

    The PAG Manual provides non-mandatory guidance for state, local and tribal governments to use at their own discretion when planning for and responding to a radiological emergency. If required by FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to implement PAG Manual guidance, offsite

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  • What authority does EPA have to set standards that protect public health and the environment at Yucca Mountain?

    The Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to set site-specific standards for Yucca Mountain comes from the Energy Policy Act of 1992. However, two other laws have important roles leading up to that authority: the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, and the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act. The Nuclear

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  • Who regulates waste from nuclear power plants?

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has regulatory authority over storage and disposal of all commercially-generated nuclear wastes in the United States, as well as disposal of spent fuel and high-level wastes generated by the Department of Energy. The NRC implements its general radiation

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  • Will it be safe for me to eat food or drink water from my area after a radiological emergency?

    Food in sealed containers, bottled water, sealed juice, unopened soda containers and any unspoiled food in your refrigerator or freezer will be safe to eat. Use a damp towel or cloth to wipe off cans, bottles, packaged foods, counters, plates, pots and utensils before using them. After use, seal

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