Indoor air quality and energy efficient ventilation rates at a New York elementary school.

Assesses the indoor air quality at Oakland Gardens Elementary School in New York City under 3 different ventilation rates. Uses a mobile laboratory to monitor air quality in 2 classrooms, a hallway and outdoors. Parameters measured include air exchange rates, particulates, odour perception, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, radon, formaldehyde and total aldehydes. When the ventilation rate is reduced, carbon dioxide concentrations increase significantly, but do not exceed current occupational standards. At the low ventilation rate, odour accepatability decreases and in one of the classrooms the odours were judged to be unacceptable according to current ASHRAE standards. Calculations indicate that moderate energy savings can be achieved by reducing the ventilation rate in the classrooms.