Indoor air quality and performance contracting in schools in the US.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the NationalAssociation of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) is demonstrating an approach whichintegrates indoor air quality (IAQ) improvements into energy efficiency upgrades provided toschools using performance contracts. Capital costs of energy-related improvements arefinanced, then repaid from utility and maintenance savings realized as a result of newequipment, systems, and controls. In five public schools in various climate zones across theU. S., baseline IAQ measurements and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC )system characterization was conducted prior to enery-related upgrades petiormed by energyservice companies. This paper describes the petiormance contracting approach, the schools inthe study, and presents some initial baseline (pre-intewention) measurements. In the studyschools, minimum outside air ventilation is being adjusted to meet the American Society ofHeating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 62-1989 recommendations,energy savings are projected to average 407,200 KWH per school, and project costs averaged$535,300 per school.