The effect of reduced ventilation on indoor air quality and energy use in schools.

Indoor air quality in an air conditioned California high school has been measured over a variety of ventilation rates ranging from 13.3 cubic feet of outside air per minute for each classroom occupant to approximately 1.5 cfm per occupant.< Parameters measured include outside air supply rate, the occupants' subjective perception of indoor air quality, airborne microbes, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone in two classrooms, a halland outdoors. Carbon dioxide was the only parameter to show a substantial increase in indoor concentration when the ventilation was reduced; however classroom levels still remained far below levels considered to be a health hazard. Concludes that moderate energy savings are possible at Carondelet High School without significant deterioration in indoor air quality.