School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program
Efficiency Vermont administers two programs supporting improvements to school indoor air quality:
- The School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program, in partnership with the Agency of Education
- The School Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Program, in partnership with the Department of Health
The School Indoor Air Quality Grant Program (Grant Program) provides technical assistance and financial support to public and approved independent schools upgrading HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality in response to COVID-19 guidelines from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The Grant Program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
Program funding is limited and will be prioritized based on need, as measured by percentage of a building’s square footage currently served by mechanical ventilation. Requirements dictate that installation of HVAC systems in buildings with no mechanical ventilation currently be given first priority. Projects funded through the Grant Program must be completed by October 31, 2024.
The School Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Program also supports the State’s efforts to improve indoor air quality in schools. The Monitoring Program will provide not only monitoring equipment, but also specialized reports on air quality data, and recommended actions to improve indoor air quality based on the monitor data collected. HVAC improvements identified through the Monitoring Program may be eligible for funding through the Grant Program.
Superintendents and Heads of School are invited to express interest in either the Grant Program or Monitoring Program, or both Programs, when completing the School Intake Form.
While Intake Forms may be submitted any time, we encourage all interested Superintendents and Heads of School to submit a School Intake Form by March 31, 2022, to be considered in the first round of participant selection in early April. Intake Forms will be re-reviewed and additional participants selected monthly until all funding is allocated.
Additional information about the Grants Program was shared during an overview session hosted on March 18th, 2022, with slides also available for viewing.