facility focus few hours resulted from doors being opened for breaks or recess, pollution increased and air quality continued to decline as the day went on. The unhealthiest levels were recorded just before students were dismissed for lunch. the quality of the air and to control the speed of the system’s fan. Before the installation of an IAQ module, the time-controlled system ventilated the club even when it was unoccupied. By switching to an IAQ monitor-controlled ventilation system, the fan’s operating time was reduced by 24 percent, which in turn reduced energy consumption by 60 percent. While studies have shown that an increase in ventilation of just one cubic foot per minute decreases absentee rates by up to two percent, IAQ monitors are still not widely used in U.S. classrooms. In some cases, school district officials are not aware of the impact poor air quality has on student attendance and perform-ance. In others, financial challenges have reduced facilities’ budgets. While they may not be able to eliminate all VOCs from the classroom, selected building materials and maintenance prod-ucts that reduce the amount of VOCs can significantly improve IAQ. The EPA offers a comprehensive online resource called Tools for Schools — avail-able at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools — that can help facility personnel work with the school’s administration to improve IAQ. Installing VOC-sensitive IAQ monitors in as many classrooms as possible will reduce energy costs and ensure clean, healthy classroom air. CM Energy-efficient IAQ IAQ monitors can also reduce energy costs when integrated with a demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system. The monitors alert the DCV system to increase airflow by initiating a ventilating action only when the threshold air quality levels for target VOCs are exceeded and fans are signaled to shut off when air qual-ity returns to normal. This can significantly reduce utility costs compared to DCV systems that are set to go on and off at predetermined times, regardless of the air quality. For example, a study was conducted of a health club’s air handling system to monitor Thomas Aiken is the chief executive officer (CEO) of AppliedSensor Inc. Relying on 25 years of research and development, AppliedSensor designs and manufactures chemical sensor systems for a broad range of applications, including highly sen-sitivity and fast-responding intelligent IAQ mon-itors and hydrogen leak sensors. The company operates three facilities worldwide: AppliedSensor Inc. in New Jersey; AppliedSensor Sweden AB in Sweden; and AppliedSensor GmbH in Germany. More information is available at www.appliedsensor.com, by calling 908-222-1477 or e-mailing [email protected]. Are you in the dark when it comes to finding equipment and supplies? • Search by product category to get an overview of available options • Search by brand or company name to locate your favorite product or vendor Let us guide you to the resources you want. Click on SUPPLIER SEARCH at www.cmmonline.com Convenient and reliable information for the cleaning and maintenance industry Circle Product Information no. 212 on page 32 48 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • November 2010
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