Moving the needle on student achievement is notoriously difficult. Most educational interventions show modest effects despite substantial costs. Clean air represents a rare exception—a simple, affordable intervention with large, measurable benefits for learning, health, and equity.
The evidence supporting classroom air quality improvements is robust and growing. What's needed now is implementation at scale:
Can pilot air purifiers in high-need classrooms and expand based on results
Can establish indoor air quality standards and funding mechanisms
Can advocate for healthy learning environments as a basic educational right
Many schools think you need to do expensive HVAC upgrades. What people don't realize is that adding air purifiers to classrooms, especially in old schools with poor ventilation, is one of the most effective interventions available. You generally can't get enough equivalent air changes per hour (eACH) without them. And it's extremely affordable.
Portable air purifiers represent the most cost-effective solution. At $500-1,000 per classroom with <$100 annual operating costs, they deliver cognitive and health benefits that would cost thousands through other educational interventions. Installation requires no special training—plug in, turn on, change filters annually.
Ventilation improvements provide additional longer-term solutions. Studies show direct correlations between ventilation rates and academic achievement, with measurable progress in math and reading when schools improve air exchange rates. However, they don't replace adding air purifiers.
Air quality monitoring makes the invisible visible. Real-time CO₂ and particulate matter sensors help schools identify problems and verify solutions are working.
Get in touch to learn more about implementation guidance and support.