ARC 2014 Meeting - Innovations in New England

Promoting Healthy Environments and Improved Asthma Control in New England Schools: Policy, Practice and Innovation

Innovations in New EnglandThursday, October 16th, 2014

Indoor Air Quality: CT’s success – Kenny Foscue, MPH, CT Department of Public HealthIntegrating Environmental Health into School Wellness – Tolle Graham, MassCOSH

Green Cleaning Purchasing Contracts – Julia Wolfe, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Operational Services Division

NEEP Public Building Operations and Maintenance – Brian Buckley, JD, MA, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships

Project CASE (Controlling Asthma in Schools Effectively) – Michelle Barron-Magee, RI Department of Health

Connecticut’s State-BasedMulti-agency

School IEQ Strategy:

The CT School Indoor Environment Resource Team

Kenny Foscue, MPH

Environmental & Occupational Health Assessment Program

CT Department of Public Healthwww.ct.gov/dph/schools www.csiert.org

http://www.ct.gov/dph/schools

Serious National Asthma Epidemic

Serious CT School IAQ Incidences

State Law: All CT Schools Have IAQ Program

EPA TfS- Useful, Practical Intervention

What Motivates Us!

Asthma Prevalence Rates byDistrict Reference Groups: Public Schools

2009 - 2011

DRG W/Asthma Action Plan

RateA 8.9 7.7B 7.1 10.9C 9.2 12.2D 5.6 12.6E 9.0 12.7F 7.8 14.0G 8.0 14.3H 5.7 13.9I 8.6 19.9

Overall: 7.8 13.9

(Rate 08-09)

7.4

10.3

12.3

12.1

11.9

13.9

12.9

14.1

19.2

13.0

CT School Indoor Environment Resource Team

(CSIERT)•CTCOSH

•CT Dept of Envir. Protection

•CT Dept of Education

•CT Dept of Construction Svcs.

•CT OSHA

•CT Dept of Public Health

•CT Education Association

•American Lung Assn of CT

•CT Assn of Local Health Drs.

•CT Assn of School Nurses

•CT Interlocal Risk Mgt Assn

•CT Association of Public School Superintendents

•CT Found. for Envir. Safe Schools

•AFT - Connecticut

•UCONN Health Center

•U.S. EPA Region I

•Yale Occup/Envir. Medicine Program

•CT Assn of Boards of Education

•CT School Building & Grounds Assn

•Southeast CT Indoor Air Coalition

•CT Assn of School Administrators

•CT PTA

•American Institute of Architecture -CT

• CT Assn of School Business Officials

Tools for Schools is the Base!

Tools for

Schools

Laboratory Clean-out Programs

Energy Conservation

Environmental Health Literacy

Support for IPM

Radon Law Complianc

e

Green Cleaning Program

Vehicle Idling

Prevention

CSIERT Strategy

Active Statewide Steering Committee

Aggressive District-Based Outreach Program

Comprehensive Training Program 5 Hours Training Utilize I.H.s, Health Professionals

Local Health Dept Involvement, Follow-up

Sustaining Program

Training Programs(Interactive Workshops)

2-Part Implementation Training: Basics of School IAQ issues How to Implement TfS Program

Importance of Effective Communication

Walkthrough Training, Exercise

Refresher Workshops

Custodian/Facilities “Advanced TfS” Wkshp IAQ Green Cleaning Infection Control

TfS Sustaining Program

Regular Communication w/ School Districts

Refresher Workshops (2hr, 3 hr)

CSIERT Web Site

Promote Utilizing School IEQ/TfS as Part of Academic Program

TfS Sustaining Program

(cont)

Ongoing Staff Support for CSIERT Consortium

Local Health Dept Involvement, Follow-up

Linking School IEQ with Energy Conservation

Participation in CT Green Leaf Program

CSIERT Web Site

(www.csiert.org)

Healthy IAQ & Energy Conservation

• Energy Cost-saving Measures Should Not Include Reducing Fresh Air!

• Less Energy Costs → More Funding for IEQ Improvements, Maintenance

• TfS Teams Should Encourage Energy Conservation

School Environmental Laws

Public Act 03-220 An Act Concerning Indoor Air Quality in Schools (7/03)

Provides schools with direction for building maintenance

Adoption of indoor air quality programs

Definitions for addressing building emergencies

Provides guidance for site evaluation

CT Public Act 02-56 (10/02), An Act Concerning Idling of School Buses

School Environmental Laws

(Cont.) Public Act 99-165, Notice of Pesticide Applications at Schools & Day Care Centers (7/99)

Public Act 05-252, Pesticides at Schools & Day Care Centers (10/05 & 1/06)

Public Act 09-81, Green Cleaning Products In Schools (2011) Independently Certified By 3rd-party Certified Organizations:

Green Seal Or Eco Logo

“No Parent, Guardian, Teacher Or Staff Member May Bring Into The School Any Consumer Product …Intended To Clean, Deodorize, Sanitize Or Disinfect.”

Accomplishments• Established Core Team of Expertise, School

Leadership

• TFS Team Training over 925 CT Schools (out of approx. 1000)

over 155 CT school districts (out of 166 districts)

over 8500 staff, parents trained

Conducted Refreshers for 477 schools in 75 Districts

Provided Advanced Training for Custodians in Over 600 schools in 53 districts

• State Policy Impact : • 2003 School IAQ Law 2009 Green Cleaning Products Law

• High Performance Schools Law

CT Schools With TfS

District Health Outcome Data

Waterford(5 schools)

IAQ Health Complaints Decrease of 66% or Greater in 9 Out of 13

Elementary Classrooms

Hamden(12 schools)

Absenteeism cut by > half in one school (484 to 203 days) in 1

year

North Haven(6 schools)

48% Decrease Reported Cases of Respiratory-related Illnesses

Chester(1 school)

Asthma-related Health Office Visits Decreased From 463 To 82

After TfS Recommendations Implemented

Hartford(~ 30 schools) # Of Asthma Incidents Declined

21% After TfS

Amity Region 5(3 schools) Asthma related school nurse visits

decreased from 234 to 30 over 2 yrs

Workers Comp. Cost Reductions:

15 of 47 Districts (32%) Decrease in IAQ Claims Frequency & Severity

TFS data used to justify new $900,000 HVAC system

TfS Outcome Successes

Why This Works: What We Have Learned

(1)

Empowerment/Collaborative Model

Pool Your Resources!

Individual Organizational Support

Effective Outreach Program

Why This Works: What We Have Learned (2)

Mandatory Buy-in From Admin.

Training Key to Successful Committees

Focus on School Systems

Need for Follow-up/Sustainability

Contact Information:

Kenny Foscue, MPH

Environmental & Occupational Health Assessment Program

Environmental Health Section

CT Department of Public Health

410 Capitol Ave, MS # 11EOH

Hartford, CT 06134-0308

860-509-7740 860-509-7785 fax

[email protected]

Healthy Schools Initiative:Moving an environmental health

agenda

Tolle GrahamLabor and Environment

Coordinator

“We know what the problem is and we have the findings, so why does it take so long to

get repairs done? It should be about the health of our

children, yet why does it take so long? The money should be in the budget to fix our

schools.”- Mary White, BUAC

Parent Leader, parent of two BPS students with asthma

Boston Public Schools

• 128 schools; 57,000 students

• 78% low income• Average Asthma rate 15% • Teacher’s 2nd highest

occupational asthma rate in MA

BUAC, a Program of The Medical Foundation

Moving an Environmental Health Agenda for

Schools• 1996 – City Council Ordinance

• 2002 – City- wide Healthy Schools Taskforce formed–Annual inspections for all schools

BUAC, a Program of The Medical Foundation

some history….• 2004: Asthma Coalition released report:

“Who’s Sick at School”• 2005 – Green Cleaning Policy adopted

• 2008 – statewide asthma coalition formed

• 2010 – BPS Wellness Council formed

• 2013 – BPS Wellness Policy incorporates “Healthy School Environments”

The EPA Framework for IAQ Tools for Schools Implementation

1. Infrastructure & Supportive Policies

4. Healthy School

Environment

2. Health & Mental Health

Services

3. Asthma Education

6. Family & Community Involvement

5. Physical Education & Activity

Public Schools District Wellness Policy

Requires every school to form or maintain a Wellness Council to guide school-based practices and systems that improve school health.

Cultural ProficiencySchool Food and Nutrition PromotionComprehensive Physical Activity Comprehensive Health EducationHealthy School EnvironmentHealth ServicesSafe and Supportive SchoolsStaff Wellness•Safe and Supportive Schools

*

Healthy School Environment/Safe and Supportive Schools

*

Healthy School Environment:

•Schools implement existing policies to promote and manage school environments. This includes the use of green cleaners, school-based recycling, a tobacco-free environment, water access, and well-maintained school facilities.

Steps:

•Principal reads annual report and prioritizes issues for Wellness Council to address

•Wellness Council creates an action plan for those issues

•Wellness Council includes school community in actions

BPS ENVIRONMETNAL AUDIT RESULTS 2004 - 2011

These two graphs on this page are showing overall district trends, specifically, the % of schools each year where at

least 5% of the spaces inspected had recorded “incidents”.

Examples of Wellness Action steps for Healthy Environments

• Organize a school “clutter-free” clean up 1-2 times a year (add fun incentives; set up swap/ give away tables)

• Encourage all staff to use IPM log to document signs of pests and read quarterly inspection reports

• Ask BPS to supply bottles for the approved “green cleaner”

• Conduct your own “environmental walkthrough” (train students as environmental ambassadors)

• Review list of work orders that have been filled or not completed

MAAP – MA Asthma Advocacy Partnership

• 2009-2014 State Plan - shared model from Boston and other urban asthma coalitions for healthy schools

• New Plan (2014- 2020) – Includes primary prevention roadmap– Share / include inclusion of

environmental health in other school district wellness policies

Copyright© Operational Services Division All Rights Reserved

Green Cleaning Purchasing Contracts

Julia Wolfe, Director of Environmental Purchasing

[email protected]

www.mass.gov/epp

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mass.gov/epp

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&docid=pogpA3n_1M0juM&tbnid=9EW2lcNkln0WyM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://construction.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=2759&ei=NPB3UvLoG4blsATMk4CQBg&psig=AFQjCNGE90GdK5oZN2GBijm26SpGdhjWFw&ust=1383678294875835

Copyright© Operational Services Division All Rights ReservedCopyright© Operational Services Division All Rights Reserved

Operational Services Division

• Central Purchasing Agency of the Commonwealth• Responsible for establishing statewide contracts• 1.4 billion in purchases last year ~ 140 contracts• “best value” contracts

Goal: Leverage purchasing power of state & local government


Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) Procurement Program:

• EO 515: Environmental Purchasing Policy

• Currently over 4 dozen EPP statewide contracts

• In FY13: $419 million of EPP purchases resulting in over $4.6 million in cost savings

• Provide education and training on EPPs - www.mass.gov/epp

• Guide to EPPs on state contracts, calculators, reports, more

Environmental Purchasing

http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/epp/vol-39-july-2014.docx

http://www.mass.gov/epp




Green CleaningCleaning products and supplies are a priority of the Commonwealths EPP Program and the Toxics Reduction Task Force.

Protect workers’ health Protect building occupants Reduce environmental impacts Potentially reduce costs


Benefits

• Health & Safety: – Involves greater safety in handling for cleaning staff and IAQ for occupants– Safer ingredients: Common cleaning products have been linked to triggering asthmatic episodes,

cancer, effects on the nervous system, reproductive organs, kidneys, liver and hormones

– Automatic dispensing systems which reduces exposure to employees

• Environment: – “Approved Products” are 3rd party certified: Environmental criteria: concentrates, packaging,

reduced or eliminates hazardous chemicals

• Savings: – Use single product with different dilution rates – Automatic dispensing systems: reduces over use of products / exposure to employees / efficient

– Disinfect only where needed: Reduces the cost of higher priced disinfectants; healthier

– Microfiber: reusable; versatile

– Chem-free options: equipment eliminates the need to buy chemicals, or reduces use (e.g., steam cleaning)


• Multi State: Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont bid in 2009

• 18 Vendors (2 vendors only do Paper & Liner Products) • All products require independent 3d party certification

except sanitizers and disinfectants

• Requires vendor to provide free facility assessments and recommendations

• Can use the Approved Products list for FAC59

FAC59: Environmentally Preferable Cleaning Products, Programs, Equipment and Supplies

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mnn.com/sites/default/files/editorial/easy_bathroom_cleaning_0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/green-cleaning&h=300&w=530&tbnid=6L61rb8FqOtL_M:&zoom=1&docid=zD-6-bxX73Yk5M&ei=j200U_qAIbO80QGM74CACQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CJgCEIQcMDc&iact=rc&dur=410&page=3&start=54&ndsp=28


Products are 3rd Party Certified Independently 3d Party Certified through Green Seal or Ecologo: • Verify green claims• Make sure products work• No need to analyze data sheets• No need for concern of various

health risks• No need for expensive disposal


FAC59 Green Cleaning Products & More!Extended thru December 31, 2014

Products Covered on Contract FAC59

1 Cleaning Chemicals: All purpose, bathroom / restroom, glass, carpet, floor care systems, appliance, degreasers

2 Disinfectants and Sanitizers

3 Hand Soap (alcohol and non-alcohol)

4 Paper Products

5 Trash Can Liners

6 Equipment (Vacuums, scrubbers, extractors, sweepers and more)

7 Entryway Mats

8 Other – Odor Control, urinal blocks, graffiti removers

9 Chemical Free Technologies

10 Laundry Detergent

11 Supplies (e.g., such as microfiber cloths and mops, energy efficient hand dryers, non-chemical scrubbing pads, and more)


Approved Products List for FAC59http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/epp/agrn-products-list-fac59-031314.xlsx

http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/epp/agrn-products-list-fac59-031314.xlsx

http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/epp/agrn-products-list-fac59-031314.xlsx

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.maidauthority.com/CLIPART_OF_17042_SMPNG.png&imgrefurl=http://www.maidauthority.com/&h=991&w=760&tbnid=9mEnPhae548hTM:&zoom=1&docid=y8kG2w5zn8pdqM&ei=QW40U6ObFMT40gGc64DQCg&tbm=isch&ved=0CA8QhBwwAjhk&iact=rc&dur=542&page=4&start=82&ndsp=29


Transition to Green Cleaning Products & Practices

• Contract Advantages– Certified products means evaluated & tested– OSD oversight for vendor performance – Request additional products on the contract as needed

• Choosing a Vendor– 16 Vendors - Talk to more than one; ideas and services can vary– Find one with location near you, references – Check their Green Program – quality of their staff, training

capabilities

• Transitioning– Facility Assessment - FREE– Vendor expertise in choosing comparable products– Ask to “pilot” products in areas of concern


Eligible Entities to Use Contract

1. Cities, towns, districts, counties and other political subdivisions;

2. Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches, including all Departments and elected offices therein;

3. Independent public authorities, commissions and quasi-public agencies;

4. Local public libraries, public school districts and charter schools;

5. Public hospitals owned by the Commonwealth;

6. Public institutions of higher education;

7. Public purchasing cooperatives;

8. Non-profit, UFR-certified organizations that are doing business with the Commonwealth;

9. Other states and territories with no prior approval by the State Purchasing Agent; and

10. Other entities when designated in writing by the State Purchasing Agent;

11. FAC81: Environmentally Preferable Janitorial Services Vendors providing services for an eligible entity


• Rebid of FAC59…………to FAC85!• Anticipated bid in the next month • Multi-state

REBID: FAC59

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mnn.com/sites/default/files/editorial/easy_bathroom_cleaning_0.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mnn.com/eco-glossary/green-cleaning&h=300&w=530&tbnid=6L61rb8FqOtL_M:&zoom=1&docid=zD-6-bxX73Yk5M&ei=j200U_qAIbO80QGM74CACQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CJgCEIQcMDc&iact=rc&dur=410&page=3&start=54&ndsp=28


• MA: Julia Wolfe, [email protected] • NY: Cynthia Miner, [email protected]• CT: Robert Zalucki, [email protected] • VT: Brian Berini, [email protected]• RI: John Cowell,

[email protected]

Still working with NH and ME to sign on.

Find out more….







www.mass.gov/EPP

• Green Cleaning Products, Programs, Equipment and Supplies– Criteria for Disinfectants and

Sanitizers– Fact Sheet: Cleaning the Bathroom– Case Study: Bradley Palmer State

Park – FAQ’s and more!

Julia Wolfe, Director of Env. Purchasing, [email protected], 617-502-8836

http://www.mass.gov/EPP


Innovations in New England: O & M, NE-CHPS, and more

October 16, 2014

Brian D. BuckleyHigh Performance Buildings Associate

PRESENTATION SUMMARY

1. About NEEP

2. NEEP’s Schools and Public Buildings O&M Guide

• IAQ Examples

• Energy Efficiency Examples

3. Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools

4. Resources

52

1. ABOUT NEEP

53

NORTHEAST ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARTNERSHIPS“Accelerating Energy Efficiency”

54

MISSIONAccelerate the efficient use of energy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions

APPROACHOvercome barriers to efficiency through Collaboration, Education & Advocacy

VISIONTransform the way we think about and use energy in the world around us.

One of six Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) designated by U.S. Dept. of Energy to work collaboratively with them in linking regions to DOE guidance, products

2. NEEP’S SCHOOL AND PUBLIC BUILDING OPERATION AND

MAINTENANCE GUIDE

(FREE @ NEEP.ORG/PUBLICBUILDINGS)

55

REGIONAL OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE GUIDE Strategies for creating green, healthy & energy efficientexisting buildings in your school or municipal building

WHAT IS IT?• A pathway for existing Schools

and Public Building to adopt high performance operation and maintenance strategies

• Many low cost ideas• Regionally developed• 15 sections

• Indoor Environmental Quality• Renewable Energy• Commissioning/Retro-

Comissioning• Financing• Recycling• Etc.

REGIONAL OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE GUIDE Organizes Indoor Environmental Quality Best Practices

For Example:

• No Irrigation System-Building Overspray

• Walk-off Mat Systems

• Energy recovery ventilation maintenance and commissioning

• Replacing Pilot Lights with Electric Ignition

• Eliminating Use of Fossil Fuel Powered Machinery within the building

• Minimizing mercury exposure

• Integrated Pest Management

REGIONAL OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE GUIDE Organizes Indoor Environmental Quality Best Practices

For example, HVAC Maintenance and Optimization:

• Replacing Filters

• Keeping hoods and intakes free of debris/ice/snow

• Ensuring condensate drainage

• Heat exchange core cleaning

• Ductwork cleaning

• Automatic Damper Operation

• Monitoring CO2 Levels to Ensure Airflow

Energy Efficiency issues covered:

59

• Benchmarking• Lighting Retrofits• Energy Management Systems• Boilers• Building Envelope Improvements• Renewables

3. NORTHEAST COLLABORATIVE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS (NE-

CHPS)

60

NE-CHPS 3.0

Criteria Prerequisite

PointsTotal Points

Possible

Integration and Innovation 6 21Operations and Metrics 11 23Indoor Environmental Quality 25 76Energy 13 68Water 6 21Sites 4 22Materials & Waste Management 4 19

Why NE-CHPS? Developed with Regional Stakeholder Input

Indoor Environmental Quality Focus

Operations & Maintenance Emphasis

Developed to Meet the Northeast’s: Building Codes

Climate

Educational Priorities

62

Walk Off Mats:• Improving Indoor Air Quality

AND Limiting Operational Costs by Keeping Out:

• Dirt• Heavy Metals• Pesticides

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters:• HEPA filter with Minimum efficiency

reporting value (MERV) of 11 required• HEPA filter with MERV value of 13 satisfies

enhanced filtration requirement

63

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES

• Recent Energy-Focused TedEd• Joshua Sneideman’s “A Guide to the Energy of the Earth”

• Financing Energy Upgrades for K-12 School Districts Guide

• Tax Exempt Lease Purchasing• Energy Performance Contracting• On-Bill Financing• Power Purchase Agreements• Grants/Internal Cash• Bonding

• Better Buildings Challenge• Education Partners

o Ex. NY’s Indian River Central School District• Summit May 27-29,2015

o K-12 Track

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-guide-to-the-energy-of-the-earth-joshua-m-sneideman

http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/partners

NEEP RESOURCESAVAILABLE AT WWW.NEEP.ORG

THANK YOU

91 Hartwell Avenue Lexington, MA 02421 P: 781.860.9177www.neep.org

65

Brian D. [email protected]

Michelle Barron-Magee,B.S.

Rhode Island Department of Health

Project CASE is a multi-level, multi-component pilot intervention targeting school-age students with asthma within three RI core cities. CASE aims to decrease the burden of asthma by• Improving the environmental health of

schools.• Increasing student and caregiver

knowledge of how to self-manage asthma.

Project CASE

Project CASE

• Increasing staff knowledge of how to recognize and decrease asthma triggers in the school environment.

• Supporting students in effectively managing their asthma.

CASE components include:• Asthma education for staff, students

and caregivers delivered by the Hasbro Children Hospital’s, Draw A Breath Program.

• Environmental walk-through within the schools.

• Communication (SNT’s, PCP’s and AAP’s).

Project CASE

CASE schools were chosen based on the following criteria:• Location in areas of high asthma burden

as reported by surveillance of claims data

• Chronic absenteeism rates as high as 21%

• Poor physical environment• Parent reports

CASE

Additional Data/Demographics:• Asthma dx of 14-21%• Within a three year period, between 11-

15% of these students had an asthma-related ED visit or hospitalization.

• 54% Hispanic, 30% African American• 80-99% eligible for Federal Free and

Reduced Price School Meal Program compared to 46% statewide.

CASE

CASE

CASE

External Partners:• Classroom teachers, custodians,

principals and school nurse teachers• RI Department of Education• Environmental Justice League of RI• Family Services RI• Hasbro Children’s Hospital• RI Asthma Control Coalition• RI Department of Education

CASE

Internal Support Staff• Asthma Control Program• Healthy Homes and Environment Team

Moving Forward• Add on four CASE schools annually • Work from the top/down with school

districts.• Involve the school districts in choosing

which schools to implement CASE.• Utilize Kidsnet to increase the use of

AAP’s.

CASE

ARC 2014 Meeting - Innovations in New England

Health & Medicine

ct schools

ct school districts

intothe school

school iaq law

newengland schools

school environmental

ct green leaf program

utilizing school ieqtfs