Industry groups partner to launch HVAC Change Lab to improve health and safety in U.S. school buildings

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, the National Center on School Infrastructure, and New Buildings Institute have formed the HVAC Change Lab, a partnership to improve health, safety, and academic success by upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools.

The groups are partnering with school districts and industry experts to create a peer network and provide one-on-one coaching and technical assistance to make school HVAC systems cleaner and more efficient.

The lab will pilot a centralized support network for school districts, school facilities leaders, designers, health and climate experts, and other partners. 

The program will work initially with 12-to-15 districts around the country. The initiative involves a growing national network of organizations.

These organizations will offer critical, hands-on technical assistance in specific areas relating to clean air, facilities management, and more. Additional participants are expected to be added to the program website later.

Aging HVAC systems in schools can lead to reduced indoor air quality, poor student health and educational performance, increased costs, and limited capacity to support community needs during extreme weather events.

School districts face persistent barriers to updating antiquated and inefficient systems, including limited staff capacity, fragmented access to technical guidance and funding opportunities, and difficulty navigating financing options and delivery models.