Episode #72: Toxic Classrooms: Improving Indoor Air Quality in Schools Interview With Lisa Greenfield

What if one of the most overlooked influences on learning isn’t curriculum or technology, but the very air students and teachers breathe? Former teacher turned indoor air quality advocate Lisa Greenfield exposes how aging buildings, deferred maintenance, and misguided cost-saving measures are triggering mold growth, illness, and cognitive harm in schools across America. 

With some estimates claiming up to 90% of U.S. schools have inadequate ventilation, Lisa explains her “Assess, Address, Assure” framework and breaks down the gap between what ASHRAE recommends and the reality in classrooms. From air-exchange rates to school building ventilation strategies, you’ll learn how cleaner air can dramatically improve health, attendance, and even deliver up to a 60% financial return for school districts. This is a wake-up call for anyone invested in the healthy future of our schools, students, and staff.

Episode Highlights

·       What led Lisa to become an indoor air quality advocate? (3:39)

·       How did Lisa’s healthcare providers respond when she suggested her health problems might be due to mold exposure? (7:02)

·       How did Lisa’s school respond when she said the air quality at school was making her sick? (8:54)

·       What issues are American school buildings facing, and how are these conditions affecting student and staff health?  (13:43)

·       What is building ventilation? (18:54)

·       Is there a standard for how often air should be replaced in public spaces? What does ASHRAE recommend? (20:59)

·       How frequently is air exchanged in most schools? (23:32)

·       What do studies say about cost savings of improving ventilation in schools? (24:50)

·       What is Lisa’s AAA prevention approach, and what real-world strategies can schools and families use to stay proactive? (28:38)

·       Did COVID-19 create lasting momentum for improved ventilation in schools? (31:30)

·       What’s the best way to start a conversation with your school about indoor air improvements? (35:40)

·       What is federal bill H.R.9131 — Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2024? (39:28)

Links mentioned in interview:

 American Society of Civil Engineers: A Comprehensive Assessment of America’s Influence  2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Executive-Summary-2025-Natl-IRC-WEB.pdf

Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act of 2024: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/9131/text

The EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit:
 https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-tools-schools-action-kit

Center for Green Schools                                                         https://www.usgbc.org/resources/school-iaq-fact-sheets-entire-series

 Get in touch with our guest:
 http://linkedin.com/in/lisa-greenfield-1000000

Disclaimer: Your Indoor Air Podcast, a Change the Air Foundation production, is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the prac