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Facility Operations and Maintenance

Effective operations and maintenance of school facilities is critically important to assure a safe and healthy learning environment. An effective maintenance plan includes all of the elements needed to ensure that facility maintenance staff are properly trained and have the tools they need to keep school facilities in good condition.

For more information on Facility Operations and Maintenance, visit:

Pennsylvania Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual exit disclaimer
This manual for environmentally preferable operation and maintenance of government buildings and associated grounds is designed to help carry out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Executive Order1998-1 to "incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into [Executive Agencies'] ... operations." Source: Pennsylvania Department of General Services' Property Management


Featured Facility Operations and Maintenance Resources:

Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT)
HealthySEAT is a new software tool from EPA designed to help school districts conduct voluntary, customized self-assessments of their school facilities for environmental, health, and safety hazards.
Source: EPA - Office of Air and Radiation - Indoor Environments Division
http://www.epa.gov/schools

National Integrated Pest Management in Schools Web Site
Contains Integrated Pest Management information specific to schools. See listing under Integrated Pest Management tools.
Source: EPA - University of Florida
http://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu/

California Portable Classrooms Study
The Air Resources Board (ARB) and Department of Health Services (DHS) completed a comprehensive study of the environmental health conditions in portable (relocatable) classrooms. This study investigated classrooms in kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and included a large representative sample.
Source: California Air Resources Board
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/pcs/pcs.htm

Collaborative for High Performance Schools
The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) aims to increase the energy efficiency of public schools in California by marketing information, service, and incentive programs directly to school districts and designers. The Collaborative's goal is to facilitate the design of high performance schools: environments that are not only energy efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit, and contain the amenities needed for a quality education.
Source: Collaborative for High Performance Schools
http://www.chps.net/

Environmental Compliance and Best Management Practices Guidance Manual
This comprehensive environmental manual is available on-line in both English and Spanish.
Source: EPA - Region 2
http://www.epa.gov/region02/children/k12/

Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator
This calculator quantifies the projected environmental benefits of purchasing and using "green" janitorial services and products. It is designed to forecast the environmental benefits of reducing chemical use by doing some or all pollution prevention measures typically involved in the routine interior cleaning of an office building. This tool also enables users to identify which green cleaning measures will have the greatest impact in reducing their use of hazardous chemicals and in preventing pollution.
Source: EPA - Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
http://www.ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp

Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits
This report is intended to answer this fundamental question: how much more do green schools cost, and is greening schools cost effective?
Source: Capital E
http://www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F9819.pdf

IPM Standards for Schools
Web site contains information about Integrated Pest Management in schools, including administrative planning and policy guidance, and landscape and pest-specific information. The home page for the site contains a description of the Institute's certification program; a list of upcoming Integrated Pest Management events; and an extensive page of Integrated Pest Management links.
Source: IPM Institute of North America, Inc. -
http://www.ipminstitute.org/school.htm

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Walkthrough Video Assessment
This is a streaming-video module directed towards schools in city environments. The purpose is to help people identify potential indoor air quality problems and how to correct them. Based on EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program.
Source: Rutgers University
http://urbantfs.digiscript.com/

LEED for Schools
The LEED for Schools Rating System recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools. Based on the LEED for New Construction rating system, it addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment.
Source: U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1586

New Hampshire Healthy School Environments
This website provides links to resources to help schools assess and address health, safety and environmental issues in school buildings. Both a fact sheet on NH Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) efforts to customize EPA's HealthySEAT , as well as New Hampshire customization of the software may be downloaded from this site.
Source: New Hampshire Department of Envrionmental Services Air Resources Division - Air Resources Division
http://www.des.nh.gov/ARD/EHP/HSE

Portables Tool Kit: A toolkit for parents and school administrators for successful use of portable classrooms.
The Modular Building Institute (MBI) has created its own toolkit of materials that are available to any school district purchaser or facility administrator to help them secure and maintain facilities that provide an optimum learning environment.
Source: Modular Building Institute
http://mbinet.org/htmlPage.aspx?name=news22

Reducing Pesticide Exposure at Schools
This September 2007 publication from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and health explains how exposures and potential health risks to children and school staff can be reduced by avoiding routine pesticide applications through an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-150/

Washington -- Rehab The Lab Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington
Rehab The Lab is a free service to King County Schools to help them manage their hazardous chemicals. A site user can download fully scripted lesson plans for least-toxic chemistry labs, information on ways to reduce chemical stockpiles in biology labs, and a list of chemicals whose risks outweigh their educational utility. The program's long-term objectives include improving schools' chemical storage practices, reducing their hazardous waste generation rates and helping them incorporate practices and lesson plans that will reduce their chemical liabilities.
Source: Washington - King County Department of Natural Resources - Local Hazardous Waste Management
http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/schoolyouth/rehab

Whole Building Design Guide
The WBDG provides government and industry practitioners with one-stop access up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a whole buildings' perspective.
Source: National Institute of Building Sciences -- Whole Building Design Guide
http://www.wbdg.org/index.php

California - Los Angeles Unified School District Product Review Database
Searchable database of over 5,000 products evaluated by the LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety to determine their suitability for use in and around Los Angeles schools.
Source: Los Angeles Unified School District - Office of Environmental Health & Safety
http://www.lausd-oehs.org/productreview.asp

Chromated Copper Arsenate and It's Use as a Wood Preservative
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is a chemical mixture consisting of three pesticidal compounds (arsenic, chromium, and copper) registered for wood preservative uses. EPA is currently reassessing CCA as part of its ongoing reregistration program for older pesticides. Federal law directs EPA to periodically reevaluate older pesticides to ensure that they continue to meet current safety standards.
Source: EPA - Office of Pesticide Programs
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/1file.htm

Green Clean Schools
Healthy Schools Campaign has published the first-ever multimedia how-to guide to help schools adopt cleaning programs that encourage the use of green products, equipment and practices in schools.
Source: Healthy Schools Campaign
http://healthyschoolscampaign.org/campaign/green_clean_schools/

Kansas School Laboratory Chemical Waste Disposal Program
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has produced a Waste Chemical Disposal Guidance For Schools. This document is meant to assist those responsible for administering or improving waste management programs at local schools throughout Kansas. This document provides information regarding non-hazardous and hazardous waste, but does not prescribe in detail all required factors and considerations for this management.
Source: Kansad Department of Health & Environment - Bureau of Waste Management - Bureau of Waste Management
http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/waste/bwm_lab_waste.html

Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
The Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools (KGHS) Program is a new, voluntary effort to empower students and staff with the tools needed to take action and make their school operate at peak efficiency.
Source: Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
http://greenschools.ky.gov/

Maine Department of Education Facilities Management Template
Includes a draft ME School Facilities Maintenance Plan including checklists for Maintenance, Operations, Grounds, Custodial, and Vehicle Services
Source: Maine Department of Education
http://www.maine.gov/education/const/fmt.htm

New York State Guidelines for Green Cleaning Products
Guidelines and specifications for the procurement and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools in New York State.
Source: New York State Office of General Services - Environmental Services Unit
http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/bldgadmin/environmental/default.html

Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities
This guide was developed by the National Association of School Business Officials through funding provided by the Department of Education's NCES. It provides guidance on maintaining school facilities, including addressing environmental concerns.
Source: Department of Education -- National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/maintenance

Iowa Rehab the Lab
Rehab the Lab can assist with management education and disposal options for unwanted hazardous chemicals.
Source: Iowa (Polk County) Metro Waste Authority
http://www.metro-waste.com/sch_reh.html

U.S Department of Labor: Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Source: U.S. Department of Labor - Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910

 
Related Resources
 •  Pest Management  
 •  Mold & Moisture  
 •  High Performance Schools  
 •  Indoor Air Quality  
 •  Ventilation  
 •  Renovation  
 •  Cleaning  
 •  Recycling  
 •  Construction  
  
ExpressLinks
  EPA Programs for Schools
  Asbestos In Schools
  Energy Star for Schools
  Environmental Education
  Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT)
  Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
  Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools
  Integrated Pest Management in Schools
  Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Day Care Centers
  Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign
  Smart Growth and Schools
  SunWise School Program
  Related EPA Programs
  Clean School Bus USA
  EPA New England's K-12 Schools Website
  EPA Office of Children's Health Protection
  Environmental Compliance and Best Management Practices Guidance Manual
  Environmental Health and Safety in the Arts
  Green Buildings Portal
  Managing Your Environmental Responsibilities: A Planning Guide for Construction and Development
  Resources Outside of EPA
  California - Los Angeles Unified School District Product Review Database
  California Portable Classrooms Study
  Collaborative for High Performance Schools
  Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits
  LEED for Schools
  National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
  Portables Tool Kit: A toolkit for parents and school administrators for successful use of portable classrooms.
  Safe Lab: School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide
  Safe and Healthy School Environments (book)
  Tox Town
  Whole Building Design Guide
   
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Last Updated on Tuesday October 21, 2008
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