Indoor Air Quality Prior to and Following School Building Renovation in a Mid-Atlantic School District

Children spend the majority of their time indoors, and a substantial portion of this time in the school environment. Air pollution has been shown to adversely impact lung development and has effects that extend beyond respiratory health. The goal of this study was to evaluate the indoor environment in public schools in the context of an ongoing urban renovation program to investigate the impact of school building renovation and replacement on indoor air quality. Indoor air quality (CO2, PM2.5, CO, and temperature) was assessed for two weeks during fall, winter, and spring seasons in 29 urban public schools between December 2015 and March 2020. Seven schools had pre- and post-renovation data available. Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in air quality outcomes by renovation status in the seven schools with pre- and post-renovation data. Prior to renovation, indoor CO measurements were within World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and indoor PM2.5 measurements rarely exceeded them. Within the seven schools with pre- and post-renovation data, over 30% of indoor CO2 measurements and over 50% of indoor temperatures exceeded recommended guidelines from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Following renovation, 10% of indoor CO2 measurements and 28% of indoor temperatures fell outside of the recommended ranges. Linear mixed models showed significant improvement in CO2, indoor PM2.5, and CO following school renovation. Even among schools that generally met recommendations on key guidelines, school renovation improved the indoor air quality. Our findings suggest that school renovation may benefit communities of children, particularly those in low-income areas with aging school infrastructure, through improvements in the indoor environment.

Evaluation of School Building Energy Performance and Classroom Indoor Environment

Existing building stock represents potential for energy saving renovations. Energy savings and indoor climate comfort are key demands for sustainable building refurbishment. Especially in schools, indoor comfort is an extremely important issue. A case study of energy consumption in selected school buildings in temperate climatic conditions of Central Europe region was performed. The studied buildings are representatives of various school premises constructed throughout the last century. The evaluation was based on data analysis of energy audits. The goal was aimed at assessment of the school building envelopes and their influence on energy consumption. One of the studied schools was selected for detailed evaluation. The school classroom was monitored for indoor thermal and visual environments. The monitoring was performed to compare the current state and renovation scenarios. Results of the evaluation show that the school buildings are highly inefficient even if renovated. Indoor climate in classrooms is largely influenced by windows. Solar gains affect interior thermal stability and daylighting. Thermal insulation quality of building envelopes and efficient solar shading systems appear to be fundamental tasks of school renovation strategies.

Analisis Pemerataan Pendidikan Tingkat Pendidikan Dasar Di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku

Social justice can be realized by realizing equitable education. In a hierarchical distribution of education can be started from education at the regional and elementary level. This study aims to describe (1) the condition of even distribution of primary level education in Buru Regency, Maluku Province. (2) factors affecting the distribution of basic education in the Buru Regency in Maluku Province. (3) the efforts of the Buru Regency government in distributing basic education. This research was conducted with a descriptive qualitative approach. Sources of data and information from the head of the education office, the education office secretary, the school principal, and teachers. Data collection techniques in the form of document studies, observation activities, and interviews. Data analysis in this research is data reduction, data presentation, verification and conclusion drawing. The results showed that (1) lack of teaching staff and inadequate educational facilities; (2) the factors that influence the distribution of education in Buru Regency are: a) budget; b) lack of parental awareness of the importance of education; d) infrastructure; e) teaching staff; f) distance to reach one place to another. (3) the efforts that have been made by the Buru Regency government in making education equal are: a) budget management prioritizes important and urgent needs; b) socialization to the public about the importance of education; c) socialization to the public to participate in education free of charge and provide scholarships to disadvantaged communities; d) school renovation; e) equity of teachers.Keywords: Equality Factor, Education, Elementary School Abstrak: Keadilan sosial dapat direalisasikan dengan mewujudkan pendidikan yang merata. Secara hierarki pemerataan pada pendidikan dapat dimulai dari pendidikan di daerah dan tingkat dasar. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mendeskripsikan (1) kondisi pemerataan pendidikan tingkat dasar di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku. (2) faktor yang mempengaruhi pemerataan pendidikan dasar di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku. (3) upaya pemerintah Kabupaten Buru dalam melakukan pemerataan pendidikan dasar. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif. Sumber data dan informasi dari kepala dinas pendidikan, sekertaris dinas pendidikan, kepala sekolah dan guru. Teknik pengumpulan data berupa studi dokumen, kegiatan observasi, dan wawancara. Analisis data dalam penelitian ini yaitu reduksi data, penyajian data, verivikasi dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa: 1) kurangnya tenaga pengajar dan fasilitas pendidikan yang belum memadai; 2) faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pemerataan pendidikan di Kabupaten Buru adalah: a) anggaran; b) kurangnya kesadaran orang tua akan pentingnya pendidikan; d) sarana prasarana; e) tenaga pengajar; f) jarak untuk menjangkau tempat satu dengan tempat lainnya. 3) upaya yang telah dilakukan pemerintah Kabupaten Buru dalam melakukan pemerataan pendidikan adalah: a) pengelolaan anggaran memprioritaskan kebutuhan yang penting dan mendesak; b) sosialisasi kepada masyarakat tentang pentingnya pendidikan; c) sosialisasi kepada masyarakat agar berpartisipasi dalam pendidikan tanpa dipungut biaya dan memberikan beasiswa kepada masyarakat yang kurang mampu; d) renovasi sekolah; e) pemerataan guru.Kata kunci: Faktor Pemerataan, Pendidikan, Sekolah Dasar

Analisis Pemerataan Pendidikan Tingkat Pendidikan Dasar Di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku

Social justice can be realized by realizing equitable education. In a hierarchical distribution of education can be started from education at the regional and elementary level. This study aims to describe (1) the condition of even distribution of primary level education in Buru Regency, Maluku Province. (2) factors affecting the distribution of basic education in the Buru Regency in Maluku Province. (3) the efforts of the Buru Regency government in distributing basic education. This research was conducted with a descriptive qualitative approach. Sources of data and information from the head of the education office, the education office secretary, the school principal, and teachers. Data collection techniques in the form of document studies, observation activities, and interviews. Data analysis in this research is data reduction, data presentation, verification and conclusion drawing. The results showed that (1) lack of teaching staff and inadequate educational facilities; (2) the factors that influence the distribution of education in Buru Regency are: a) budget; b) lack of parental awareness of the importance of education; d) infrastructure; e) teaching staff; f) distance to reach one place to another. (3) the efforts that have been made by the Buru Regency government in making education equal are: a) budget management prioritizes important and urgent needs; b) socialization to the public about the importance of education; c) socialization to the public to participate in education free of charge and provide scholarships to disadvantaged communities; d) school renovation; e) equity of teachers.Keywords: Equality Factor, Education, Elementary School Abstrak: Keadilan sosial dapat direalisasikan dengan mewujudkan pendidikan yang merata. Secara hierarki pemerataan pada pendidikan dapat dimulai dari pendidikan di daerah dan tingkat dasar. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mendeskripsikan (1) kondisi pemerataan pendidikan tingkat dasar di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku. (2) faktor yang mempengaruhi pemerataan pendidikan dasar di Kabupaten Buru Provinsi Maluku. (3) upaya pemerintah Kabupaten Buru dalam melakukan pemerataan pendidikan dasar. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif. Sumber data dan informasi dari kepala dinas pendidikan, sekertaris dinas pendidikan, kepala sekolah dan guru. Teknik pengumpulan data berupa studi dokumen, kegiatan observasi, dan wawancara. Analisis data dalam penelitian ini yaitu reduksi data, penyajian data, verivikasi dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa: 1) kurangnya tenaga pengajar dan fasilitas pendidikan yang belum memadai; 2) faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pemerataan pendidikan di Kabupaten Buru adalah: a) anggaran; b) kurangnya kesadaran orang tua akan pentingnya pendidikan; d) sarana prasarana; e) tenaga pengajar; f) jarak untuk menjangkau tempat satu dengan tempat lainnya. 3) upaya yang telah dilakukan pemerintah Kabupaten Buru dalam melakukan pemerataan pendidikan adalah: a) pengelolaan anggaran memprioritaskan kebutuhan yang penting dan mendesak; b) sosialisasi kepada masyarakat tentang pentingnya pendidikan; c) sosialisasi kepada masyarakat agar berpartisipasi dalam pendidikan tanpa dipungut biaya dan memberikan beasiswa kepada masyarakat yang kurang mampu; d) renovasi sekolah; e) pemerataan guru.Kata kunci: Faktor Pemerataan, Pendidikan, Sekolah Dasar

Early decision-making for school building renovation

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate how decisions are taken in the early stages of a renovation project, up to the design brief, leading up to the decisions on how to proceed with the renovation in the design phase. Although many technical solutions are visualised in the design phase, it is in the early evaluations of needs and demands, leading up to the design brief, that set the requirements for viable solutions in the design and production phases. Design/methodology/approach The study was carried out as a longitudinal case study of the planning phases of a school renovation. The studied buildings were researched by document analysis and by attending meetings over a four-year period between the building owners and the municipality. Findings Aspects such as technical status, energy use and indoor environment in the buildings were not discussed to any great extent. A few inventories were carried out in the buildings to establish their technical and accessibility status. The aspects mainly discussed in the studied renovation project have been: accessibility, functionality with respect to teaching and learning requirements in addition to architectural and cultural values. Originality/value This study illustrates the comprehensive analysis needed when renovating a building and on difficulties of addressing and evaluating all the viable aspects of concern. It also shows that this planning for a renovation is not a straight line but rather a process where conditions are continuously changing.