California School Reopening Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair Program
Resources:
Listen to the GAO Podcast about K-12 School Building Construction and Renovation Needs, featuring interviews with GAO officials on significant issues and new reports HERE.
View the GAO study that found that School Districts Frequently Identified Multiple Building Systems Needing Updates or Replacement HERE.
View the Snips Magazine article regarding the indoor air quality of schools in California. They highlight the new white paper published by the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) and the University of California – Davis. View the article HERE.
Building Reopening Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair Program
The UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC) has put together an educational and informational website providing information and resources for improving air quality in California schools.
CAL SMACNA is proud to share with you an exclusive video produced by the UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center and sponsored by NEMI illustrating the importance of proper ventilation in schools. This video was produced as a resource that can be used by CAL SMACNA members and others in our HVAC allied trades community to help increase public awareness and understanding of ventilation in modern buildings.
HVAC systems provide necessary mechanical ventilation to classrooms. Students and teachers occupying energy efficient school buildings with sealed building envelopes rely upon properly operating ventilation systems for fresh air. Ventilation helps remove the build-up of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, which can off-gas from building materials, finishes, and furniture. There is also increasing evidence that CO2 exhaled by building occupants is an indoor pollutant that can affect cognitive performance. This is particularly important in classrooms, where lots of people gather in a small space built and designed for energy efficiency.
After thorough research by Lawrence Berkeley Labs and UC Davis, the WCEC recommend the following actions to improve ventilation rates in classrooms:
- Complete commissioning and acceptance testing of new HVAC systems as required by Title 24.
- Run HVAC fans when classrooms are occupied to bring in fresh air.
- Replace filters 2-3 times per school year.
- Monitor classroom CO2 concentrations. Thermostats with CO2 sensors and stand-alone sensors are widely available.
- Test ventilation rates in existing HVAC systems and make corrections when needed.
The WCEC website also includes information on the white paper on Proposed Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification/Repair Program for School Reopening. The white paper presents a proposal that would prepare schools for reopening during the COVID-19 crisis.
To view more information, news coverage regarding this issue, and additional resources visit their website HERE.
If you are interested in receiving more information on classroom IAQ or otherwise helping our efforts to improve schools please send your contact information to Emily Mills at emily@cal-smanca.org.
Qualified Contractor Referral List — School Ventilation Verification and Energy Optimization Program
Peterson Mechanical
Scott Peterson, Service Director
Sonoma, CA
707-940-3139
scott@petersonmechanical.com
United Mechanical, Inc.
Vahid Amani/Tony Vela
San Jose, Alameda, Rohnert Park, CA
408-313-8980/408-781-9571
vamani@umi1.com
tvela@umi1.com
Silicon Valley Mechanical, Inc.
Michael O’Rourke, Director, Service Account Manager
San Jose, CA
925-819-2224
morourke@svminc.com
Air Systems Service & Construction
Logan Brimer, Chief Engineer
Concord, CA
916-813-3431
lbrimer@airsystems1.com
Control Air Enterprises
Bret Breedlove, Service Manager
Hayward, CA
510-512-0372
bbreedlove@controlac.com
Allied Heating & Air Conditioning
Mike Loftin, Service Manager
San Rafael, CA
415-233-0352
mloftin@alliedhvac.com
Bay City Mechanical Service
Greig Hoque, P.E., Project Group Engineer
Richmond, CA
408-377-0916
assessyourschool@baycitymech.com
ACCO Engineered Systems
Josh Keene, Director of System Operations
San Leandro, CA
925-360-5649
jkeene@accoes.com
Martinez Sheet Metal
Jessica Pacat, Business Operations Manager
Martinez, CA
925-228-3380
jpacat@martinezsheetmetal.com
Indoor Environmental Services
Lisa Sires, Director of Business Development
Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Pleasanton, CA
707-477-5687
lsires@ies-hvac.com
ACCO Engineered Systems
Alex Tiechner, System Operations Supervisor
Sacramento, CA
916-275-9902
atiechner@accoes.com
Airco Mechanical Inc.
Savannah Hatler, Service Coordinator
Sacramento, CA
916-381-4523
savannahh@aircomech.com
Brice Mechanical
Nicole Billings, Project Manager
Sacramento, CA
530-363-6044
nicoleb@bricemechanical.com
New England Sheet Metal & Mechanical Co.
John Sloan, President & CEO
Fresno, CA
559-268-7375
jsloan@nesm.com
Strategic Mechanical
Mark Schweitzer, Sales Engineer
Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare, CA
559-446-5526
mschweitzer@strategicmech.com
AireMasters AC
Michael Dean, VP of Operations
Santa Fe Springs, CA
562-944-6302
mdean@airemasters-ac.com
A.O. Reed & Co.
Aubrey Taft, Vice President Business Development
San Diego, CA
619-778-3316
ataft@aoreed.com
Jackson & Blanc
Kaveen Patel, PE, CEM, Project Consultant
San Diego, CA
858-282-7939
kpatel@jacksonandblanc.com
Certified Air Balance
Ed Santana, Jr.
Santa Fe Springs, CA
818-631-9283
estantanajr@certifiedairbalance.com
J.R. Barto Heating/Air-Conditioning/Sheet Metal, Inc.
Kamron Lorencz, Office Manager
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, CA
805-928-5486
kamron@jrbarto.com
Precision Air Balance Co. Inc.
Karen S. Fox, President
Anaheim, CA
714-630-3796
kfox@precisionairbalance.com
ACH Mechanical Contractor, Inc.
Hector Vargas, President/Mike Boughamer
Redlands, CA
909-307-2850
hvargas@achmechancial.com
mboughamer@achmechanical.com
Penn Air Control, Inc.
Nathan Culley, General Manager
Los Angeles, CA
714-325-7162
nculley@pennairgroup.com
Los Angeles Air Conditioning, Inc.
Anthony Alkhuder, Vice-President
La Verne, CA
909-596-7077
malkhuder@laair.net
Associate Mechanical Contractors
Eric Hall, Start-Up & Commissioning Supervisor
Escondido, CA
760-294-3517
erich@amechinc.com
Air Management Industries, Inc.
Sean Wallace, Estimator
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
909-945-0041
sean@airmanagementindustries.com
Cold Craft, Inc.
Kent Penning, President/Dan Parent, Engineer
Campbell, CA
408-374-7292
kpenning@coldcraft.com
dparent@coldcraft.com