Development of a tool to predict the socio-economic consequences of better air quality and temperature control in classrooms

Abstract A simplified modelling framework for the prediction of the indoor environment, energy use and socio-economic consequences of improving air quality and temperature in school buildings is suggested. The framework combines established models for infiltration and different modes of ventilation to estimate yearly distributions of the classroom temperature and CO2 concentration. These distributions are used as input to a prediction of pupil performance of schoolwork, their attendance at school, and teacher absence before and after refurbishment of their school building. Eventually, the framework estimates the socio-economic consequences of an improved classroom environment for a school and may be used to evaluate the feasibility of a range of different refurbishment scenarios and support decisions on building upgrades.

[1]  J. A. Munroe,et al.  Prediction of wind-induced ventilation for livestock housing , 1992 .

[2]  Jörn-Steffen Pischke,et al.  The Impact of Length of the School Year on Student Performance and Earnings: Evidence from the German Short School Years , 2003, SSRN Electronic Journal.

[3]  Orley Ashenfelter,et al.  Estimates of the Economic Return to Schooling from a New Sample of Twins , 1992 .

[4]  S. Corgnati,et al.  A method for heating consumption assessment in existing buildings: A field survey concerning 120 Italian schools , 2008 .

[5]  J. Angrist,et al.  Does Compulsory School Attendance Affect Schooling and Earnings? , 1990 .

[6]  Klaus Sedlbauer,et al.  Untersuchungen zum Raumklima und zur Fensterlüftung in Schulen , 2009 .

[7]  Steve Turner,et al.  Classroom carbon dioxide concentration, school attendance, and educational attainment. , 2014, The Journal of school health.

[8]  K. Salvanes,et al.  Life-Cycle Earnings, Education Premiums, and Internal Rates of Return , 2014, Journal of Labor Economics.

[9]  G. Weisenborn.  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals , 2018 .

[10]  Manuel Gameiro da Silva,et al.  Energy consumption in schools – A review paper , 2014 .

[11]  S. Batterman,et al.  Indoor air quality in Michigan schools. , 2007, Indoor air.

[12]  P. Fanger,et al.  ADAPTATION TO INDOOR AIR POLLUTION , 1992 .

[13]  Yi Wang,et al.  Ventilation system type, classroom environmental quality and pupils' perceptions and symptoms , 2014 .

[14]  Max H. Sherman,et al.  Comparison of Measured and Predicted Infiltration Using the LBL Infiltration Model , 1986 .

[15]  Esteban M. Aucejo,et al.  Assessing the Effect of School Days and Absences on Test Score Performance. CEP Discussion Paper No. 1302. , 2014 .

[16]  U. Haverinen-Shaughnessy,et al.  Association between substandard classroom ventilation rates and students' academic achievement. , 2011, Indoor air.

[17]  Cheuk Ming Mak,et al.  Determination of single-sided ventilation rates in multistory buildings: Evaluation of methods , 2014 .

[18]  Julien Grenet.  Is Extending Compulsory Schooling Alone Enough to Raise Earnings? Evidence from French and British Compulsory Schooling Laws , 2013 .

[19]  H. Awbi.  Ventilation of buildings , 1873 .

[20]  Derek Clements-Croome,et al.  Ventilation rates in schools and pupils' performance , 2012 .

[21]  Michael Wilson,et al.  Aircraft noise, overheating and poor air quality in classrooms in London primary schools , 2012 .

[22]  David T. Grimsrud,et al.  CALCULATING INFILTRATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR A CONSTRUCTION QUALITY STANDARD , 1983 .

[23]  D Faulkner,et al.  Associations between classroom CO2 concentrations and student attendance in Washington and Idaho. , 2004, Indoor air.

[24]  I. Annesi-Maesano,et al.  School air quality related to dry cough, rhinitis and nasal patency in children , 2010, European Respiratory Journal.

[25]  M G Apte,et al.  Association of classroom ventilation with reduced illness absence: a prospective study in California elementary schools , 2013, Indoor air.

[26]  Dominique Marchio,et al.  Full scale experimental study of single-sided ventilation: Analysis of stack and wind effects , 2011 .

[27]  S. Kuger,et al.  Increased instruction hours and the widening gap in student performance , 2017 .

[28]  William P. Bahnfleth,et al.  The relationships between classroom air quality and children’s performance in school , 2020 .

[29]  Bourhan Tashtoush,et al.  Dynamic model of an HVAC system for control analysis , 2005 .

[30]  Max H. Sherman,et al.  THE USE OF BLOWER-DOOR DATA * , 1995 .

[31]  Georgios Kokogiannakis,et al.  Comparison of the simplified methods of the ISO 13790 standard and detailed modelling programs in a regulatory context , 2008 .

[32]  David T. Grimsrud,et al.  Measurement of infiltration using fan pressurization and weather data , 1980 .

[33]  Michele De Carli,et al.  Indoor environmental quality and pupil perception in Italian primary schools , 2012 .

[34]  Andreas K. Athienitis,et al.  Airflow assessment in cross-ventilated buildings with operable façade elements , 2011 .

[35]  D K Milton,et al.  Risk of sick leave associated with outdoor air supply rate, humidification, and occupant complaints. , 2000, Indoor air.

[36]  W. Fisk,et al.  Is CO2 an Indoor Pollutant? Direct Effects of Low-to-Moderate CO2 Concentrations on Human Decision-Making Performance , 2012, Environmental health perspectives.

[37]  Andrew K. Persily,et al.  Airtightness of Commercial and Institutional Buildings: Blowing Holes in the Myth of Tight Buildings | NIST , 1998 .

[38]  C. Kielb,et al.  The impact of school building conditions on student absenteeism in Upstate New York. , 2010, American journal of public health.

[39]  P. Wargocki,et al.  The relationship between classroom temperature and children’s performance in school , 2019, Building and Environment.

[40]  W. Fisk.  HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY GAINS FROM BETTER INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY , 2000 .

[41]  Mats Sandberg,et al.  An Alternative View on the Theory of Cross-Ventilation , 2004 .

[42]  Gianfranco Rizzo,et al.  The European standards for energy efficiency in buildings: An analysis of the evolution with reference to a case study , 2019, SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MATERIAL SCIENCE, SMART STRUCTURES AND APPLICATIONS: ICMSS-2019.

[43]  Mari Turunen,et al.  Indoor environmental quality in school buildings, and the health and wellbeing of students. , 2014, International journal of hygiene and environmental health.

[44]  Becca Castleberry,et al.  Assessing drivers and barriers of energy-saving measures in Oklahoma’s public schools , 2016 .

[45]  Jørn Toftum,et al.  Classroom ventilation must be improved for better health and learning , 2010 .

[46]  A. Rosenfeld,et al.  Estimates of Improved Productivity and Health from Better Indoor Environments , 1997 .

[47]  Jørn Toftum,et al.  Association between classroom ventilation mode and learning outcome in Danish schools , 2015 .