Poor indoor air quality in schools contributes to asthma and negatively affects children’s health, productivity and attendance. Click on the school to learn more about providing healthier learning environments for children of all ages.

Tips for Consumers to improve indoor air quality in their homes

    • The U.S. EPA reports that roughly 50 percent of schools have poor indoor air quality.

    • A major source of indoor air pollution is chemical pollutants commonly referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In fact, studies show that a typical classroom has 50 to 300 VOCs present in the air.

    • The primary source of these pollutants is chemical emissions from interior products such as furnishings, building materials, and cleaning supplies.   
    • Children are especially at risk to health impacts of poor indoor air quality because their bodies are still developing.

    • Health problems that result from exposure to VOCs include asthma, allergies and headaches. Improving indoor air quality has been shown to improve student health, productivity, attendance and test scores.

    • To protect the health of children, it is vital to limit their exposure to chemicals in schools and other indoor environments. For more about children’s health and indoor air quality click here.
       
    • Using materials and products that release the fewest possible pollutants helps promote healthier air in schools.

    • GREENGUARD Children & SchoolsSM Certified products are screened for emissions of more than 10,000 VOCs and meet some of the world's most rigorous indoor air quality standards.

    • Sustainable building programs, such as Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and LEED® for Schools, recognize and reference GREENGUARD Certification.

GREENGUARD