Trane® by Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator and Austin ISD are teaming up to assess and improve the quality of indoor air in the school district.

Indoor air quality has long been a critical part of healthy, effective learning environments, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems play a critical role in creating proper indoor air quality. ASHRAE® guidelines to address COVID-19 in the reopening of schools indicate that making changes to the operation of HVAC systems can reduce exposure to airborne contaminants.

As part of the pilot program, Trane engineers are completing Indoor Air Quality Assessments at a sample of Austin ISD elementary, middle and high schools. The findings will equip Austin ISD school building managers with a clear and cost-effective roadmap for any needed improvements that will bring facilities into alignment with industry recommendations.

The priority of Austin ISD is to create the best possible indoor environment for students and staff, said Bob Cervi, executive director of facilities and construction for Austin ISD.

"At my core I am an educator. As a former high school drafting teacher and coach, it is imperative to provide an environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to learning," Cervi said. "It was important to us to evaluate the quality of air in our schools alongside everything else we're doing to mitigate risks for in-person learning. Trane's engineered approach, developed in conjunction with ACR Engineering, will ensure we take the right steps to improve air quality and help ensure the best possible outcome for the Austin ISD family."

The Trane® Indoor Air Quality Assessment is a fact-based, data-driven analysis of how effectively a building's indoor air quality adheres to current industry and CDC recommendations for operating HVAC systems. The Trane® Indoor Air Quality Assessment focuses on four critical areas of indoor air quality - dilute, exhaust, contain and clean. School operators will receive actionable data and insights about the schools' overall air quality to implement immediately or plan for future investment.

"As a parent with a daughter at Highland Park Elementary, our family is very anxious to get our daughter back to the high quality, in person learning environment she experienced as a kindergartener," said Scott Huffmaster, area general manager for Trane. "We are pleased to see the district going the extra mile to assess and understand the quality of air in its schools. Investments in indoor air quality, proper ventilation, and technologies that can save on long-term energy use are going to benefit our students and school occupants for years, well beyond the immediate threat of this pandemic."

Visit www.trane.com/k12 to learn more about Trane solutions for schools.

Additional Information

The transmission of COVID-19 may occur in a variety of ways and circumstances, many of the aspects of which are currently not known. HVAC systems, products, services and other offerings have not been tested for their effectiveness in reducing the spread of COVID-19, including through the air in closed environments.

About Trane

Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator - creates comfortable, energy efficient indoor environments for commercial and residential applications. For more information, please visit www.trane.com or www.tranetechnologies.com.