American University
OP-3: Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is managed via four complementary systems: 1) Energy Management System Four full time staff manage the university’s Siemens Apogee energy management system (EMS), which monitors campus HVAC systems, including certain air quality components such as CO sensors, CO2 sensors, and humidity sensors. The EMS is designed to control indoor air quality as well as trigger staff response when the system detects air quality indicators beyond pre-set allowable ranges. The system is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 2) Occupant Feedback “2FIX” is the campus-wide customer feedback system for facilities-related inquiries and complaints. Building occupants use this system, which includes a phone hotline and email address (202.885.2FIX and 2FIX@american.edu), to provide feedback on indoor air quality. Calls and emails to 2FIX produce work tickets for response by professional facilities staff people. If/when facilities staff are unable to resolve an indoor air quality complaint, it is referred to Risk Management for additional inquiry and action. 3) Staff Observation Facilities staff are trained to observe and act to prevent and/or re-mediate sources of potential impacts on indoor air quality, such as observing vehicle fumes penetrating a building, visible mold growth, and other such indicators of potential air contamination. 4) The Green Cleaning Program Minimizes the amount of dirt entering buildings by using entryway mats, thereby avoiding overuse of cleaning chemicals. It trains staff on safe chemical handling and cleaning practices in order to avoid exposing them to chemicals. We also use Green Seal-certified cleaners and equipment that are verified against a rigorous, nationally recognized standard for identifying greener cleaning supplies. Additionally the 25 existing buildings undergoing LEED certification are required to comply with LEED EBOM prerequisites for indoor air quality.