{"id":20219,"date":"2025-01-08T20:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T01:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/?page_id=20219"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:47:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:47:00","slug":"chess","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/research\/chess\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Schools: Indoor Air Quality and Climate Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Promoting healthy indoor air quality, sustainability, and climate resilience in schools.<\/h2>\n<div class=\" bu-callout alignright\"><\/p>\n<h3>Clean Air for Healthy Learning<\/h3>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;\" class=\"responsive-video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BsgOUhLv2Wc?si=AjCul3KTdMP0md7i\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p>In the United States, 50 million children in grades K-12 spend more than 30 hours each week at school \u2014 but there are few standards for <a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/afbf841a77e64cb1b504a73c168ede93\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">indoor environmental quality<\/a>. V<span>iruses, mold, air pollutants, high temperatures, and relative humidity can be major stressors in classrooms, negatively impacting <\/span>students&#8217; health and learning.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, Boston Public Schools (BPS) launched a district-wide Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring System to measure and improve air quality and thermal comfort for a better teaching and learning environment. More than 4,400 sensors are connected to an online <a href=\"https:\/\/bostonschoolsiaq.terrabase.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">public dashboard<\/a>, providing real-time data on carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, temperature, and humidity levels at all Boston Public Schools. By monitoring and analyzing this data, the district can address high IAQ levels, adjust building temperatures, evaluate school improvements, advocate for better ventilation, and ensure equitable resource allocation.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Real-time Air Quality Data in Boston Public Schools<\/h3>\n\n<div class=\"bu-stat-list bu-stat-count-4 bu-stat-theme-override-default bu-stat-aligncenter \">\n\n\t\n\t\t\n<article class=\"bu-stat-single js-bu-stat-single bu-stat-has-title bu-stat-type-text bu-stat-theme-default bu-stat-has-max-characters-7 post-20227 bu_stat type-bu_stat status-publish hentry\" >\n\t<div class=\"bu-stat-inner js-bu-stat-inner\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bu-stat-title\">\n\t\t\tHours per day students and teachers spend inside schools\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-element\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-value-container bu-stat-value-one \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value-field\">6 to 10<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-value-container -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-element -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n<article class=\"bu-stat-single js-bu-stat-single bu-stat-has-title bu-stat-has-image bu-stat-type-number bu-stat-theme-default bu-stat-has-max-characters-3 post-20225 bu_stat type-bu_stat status-publish hentry\" >\n\t<div class=\"bu-stat-inner js-bu-stat-inner\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bu-stat-title\">\n\t\t\tTotal number of BPS schools in the district\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-element\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-value-container bu-stat-value-one \">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value-field\">121<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-value-container -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-element -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"bu-stat-image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"636\" height=\"424\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_stat-schools-636x424.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"School building entrance.\" \/>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n<article class=\"bu-stat-single js-bu-stat-single bu-stat-has-title bu-stat-type-number bu-stat-theme-default bu-stat-has-max-characters-5 post-20223 bu_stat type-bu_stat status-publish hentry\" >\n\t<div class=\"bu-stat-inner js-bu-stat-inner\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bu-stat-title\">\n\t\t\tIndoor Air Quality sensors installed in BPS schools\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-element\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-value-container bu-stat-value-one  bu-stat-has-suffix bu-stat-has-suffix-plus\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value-field\">4,400<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-suffix bu-stat-suffix-plus\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value-field\">+<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-value-container -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-element -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\t\n\t\t\n<article class=\"bu-stat-single js-bu-stat-single bu-stat-has-title bu-stat-has-image bu-stat-type-number bu-stat-theme-default bu-stat-has-max-characters-3 post-20224 bu_stat type-bu_stat status-publish hentry\" >\n\t<div class=\"bu-stat-inner js-bu-stat-inner\">\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"bu-stat-title\">\n\t\t\tRooftop Outdoor Air Quality sensors installed in BPS schools\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-element\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bu-stat-value-container bu-stat-value-one \">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bu-stat-value-field\">118<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-value-container -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- \/.bu-stat-element -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"bu-stat-image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"636\" height=\"424\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/OAQ_stat-636x424.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Research Approach and Goals<\/h3>\n<p>This one-of-a-kind dataset inspired Patricia Fabian, who has studied indoor air quality for more than 20 years, to pursue an ongoing research collaboration with BPS&#8217;s Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Program. The goal: to turn all this data into meaningful information. BPS credits the partnership with helping to prioritize operational improvements and investments such as new HVAC systems and engage the BPS community in these efforts.<\/p>\n<p>Fabian, an Associate Professor in Environmental Health at BU&#8217;s School of Public Health, leads the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/fabian\/chess\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clean Air, Health, and School Sustainability (CHESS) project<\/a> through her\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/fabian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sustainable Built Environment Lab<\/a>. CHESS uses data-driven, community-engaged, actionable research to promote healthy indoor air quality, sustainability, and climate resilience in all schools.<\/p>\n<p>CHESS takes an interdisciplinary approach. The project draws on resources from across the School of Public Health and BU for expertise in data management and analysis, <span>building science, environmental health, <\/span>and community engagement.<\/p>\n<p><a href='https:\/\/youtu.be\/mhC2UyD615E?si=haBtgjkpyD9OgMgR' class='button button-tertiary'>Watch Project Impact Video<\/a><br \/>\n<div class=\" bu-callout aligncenter\"><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 2rem;\" class=\"display-posts-title\">In the Media<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-636x424.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"636\" height=\"424\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-20278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/BPS_call-out2-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 636px) 100vw, 636px\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;[This] is a really groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind dataset,\u201d says Fabian. \u201c[BPS] can use it to make adjustments to their systems and operations or to find out when there are problems like a carbon monoxide leak, but they are resource-constrained to take the billions of data points generated every year and use them to support grant applications, decisions, and policies. That is where this partnership comes in.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><div class=\"display-posts-listing\"><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2025\/10\/26\/science\/boston-public-schools-air-pollution-sensor\/?p1=StaffPage\">A Tiny Device is Identifying Invisible Health Hazards in Boston Schools<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(10\/27\/2025)<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/baystatebanner.com\/2025\/10\/08\/community-air-quality-efforts-score-more-than-1-million-in-city-funding\/\">Community Air Quality Efforts Score More Than $1 Million in City Funding<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(10\/8\/2025)<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/digitaleditions.sheridan.com\/publication\/?i=849638&#038;p=14&#038;view=issueViewer\">Monitoring for Quality<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(8\/1\/2025)<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/fresher-air-smarter-schools-sph-researchers-share-novel-method-for-monitoring-indoor-air-quality\/\">Fresher Air, Smarter Schools: SPH Researchers Share Novel Method for Monitoring Indoor Air Quality<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(4\/25\/2025)<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/professor-partners-with-boston-public-schools-to-study-classroom-air-quality\/\">Professor Partners with Boston Public Schools to Study Classroom Air Quality<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(2\/9\/2024)<\/span><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<\/div><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\" bu-callout aligncenter\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"display-posts-title\">Journal Articles &amp; Reports<\/h3>\n<p><div class=\"display-posts-listing\"><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2950362025000347\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/102-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Empty desks in a classroom.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/102-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/102-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/102-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/01\/102.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2950362025000347\">Rethinking Heat in Thousands of School Classrooms Through Continuous Monitoring and Novel Exposure Metrics<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(6\/17\/2025)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Indoor Environments<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanam\/article\/PIIS2667-193X(25)00158-9\/fulltext\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/06\/BPS-Sensor-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Indoor air quality sensor.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/06\/BPS-Sensor-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/06\/BPS-Sensor-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/06\/BPS-Sensor-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/06\/BPS-Sensor.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanam\/article\/PIIS2667-193X(25)00158-9\/fulltext\">Decision Tools for Schools Using Continuous Indoor Air Quality Monitors: A Case Study of CO2 in Boston Public Schools<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(6\/14\/2025)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">The Lancet Regional Health<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/fabian\/files\/2025\/06\/Toward-healthier-air-in-schools_V1.pdf\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/04\/School-classroom-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Blurred image of school classroom.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/04\/School-classroom-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/04\/School-classroom-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/04\/School-classroom-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/04\/School-classroom.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/fabian\/files\/2025\/06\/Toward-healthier-air-in-schools_V1.pdf\">Toward Healthier Air in Schools: The State of Indoor Air Quality Programs in K-12 Schools in the U.S. &#038; Findings to Guide Action<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(6\/1\/2025)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Boston University Sustainable Built Environment Lab<\/span><\/div><div class=\"listing-item\"><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.indenv.2025.100083\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2025\/03\/Elementary-classroom-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Elementary school classroom with kids raising their hands and a teacher in the front of the room.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/03\/Elementary-classroom-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/03\/Elementary-classroom-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/03\/Elementary-classroom-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/files\/2025\/03\/Elementary-classroom.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a> <a class=\"title\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.indenv.2025.100083\">Estimating Air Exchange Rates in Thousands of Elementary School Classrooms Using Commercial CO2 Sensors and Machine Learning<\/a> <span class=\"date\">(3\/6\/2025)<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt-dash\">-<\/span> <span class=\"excerpt\">Indoor Environments<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\" bu-callout aligncenter\"><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"margin-block: 2rem;\" class=\"display-posts-title\">Webinars<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/webtv.un.org\/en\/asset\/k1v\/k1vv2t3bma?kalturaStartTime=4009&amp;config%5bplayback%5d=%7b%22audioLanguage%22:%22en%22%7d&amp;config%5bui%5d=%7b%22locale%22:%22en%22%7d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action<\/a>, High-Level Side-Event of United Nations General Assembly (September 23, 2025)<br style=\"clear: both;\" \/><br style=\"clear: both;\" \/><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/GcUP7nOUFEs?si=hIXilJZMIUgcvph7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boston Public Schools: Leaders in IAQ Monitoring<\/a>, hosted by the National School Boards Association and the Go Green Initiative (July 15, 2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>IGS-affiliated Project Leaders<\/h4>\n\n\t<ul class=\"profile-listing profile-format-advanced\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"profile-item profile-item-advanced has-title post-12693 profile type-profile status-publish hentry igs-affiliation-associate-directors igs-affiliation-faculty igs-affiliation-leadership\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/profile\/m-patricia-fabian\/\" class=\"profile-link profile-link-advanced\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"profile-photo profile-photo-advanced\"><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/igs\/files\/2022\/07\/Screenshot-2024-03-25-at-3.40.53\u202fPM-300x300.png\" alt=\"Headshot of Patricia Fabian\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"profile-name profile-name-advanced\">M. Patricia Fabian<\/h6>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title profile-title-advanced\">Associate Director, IGS;<br \/>\r\nProfessor, Environmental Health, School of Public Health<\/p>\t<\/a>\n\n\t\n<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\n<a href='https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/research\/projects\/' class='button button-primary'>View all projects<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Promoting healthy indoor air quality, sustainability, and climate resilience in schools. In the United States, 50 million children in grades K-12 spend more than 30 hours each week at school \u2014 but there are few standards for indoor environmental quality. Viruses, mold, air pollutants, high temperatures, and relative humidity can be major stressors in classrooms, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15764,"featured_media":0,"parent":31,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/no-sidebars.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20219"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15764"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20219"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24335,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20219\/revisions\/24335"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/31"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/igs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}