One Massachusetts school district is on the verge of a major goal: air conditioning in every classroom.
Springfield Public Schools said eight schools now lack air conditioning, down from roughly 30, after a $14 million investment in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades.
The latest phase of the work reached four elementary schools, as classroom comfort and building efficiency become a major part of the district's facilities planning.
Here's what to know
According to WWLP, officials used Freedman Elementary School to highlight completed HVAC progress, while Glickman, Glenwood, and Dorman elementary schools also received installations.
Jon Carignan, Springfield's director of buildings, said the mechanical work included replacing ventilators with new ones built for "maximum fresh air" along with updates to boilers that were installed in the late 2000s.
With only "a handful" of schools still needing AC, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the city has made major progress and is still "crossing more off the list," per WWLP.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Superintendent Sonia E. Dinnall tied the upgrades to student health and environmental goals, saying the work reflects the district's commitment to "safe and healthy environments" for the entire school community.
More background
Per WWLP, the HVAC effort is part of a larger facilities campaign involving the district, parks department, Department of Capital Asset Management, and Massachusetts School Building Authority. Those four entities have put over $1 billion toward the effort, covering both new buildings and renovations to existing schools across Springfield.
Sarno said the upgrades "will help our students and teachers excel both in and out of the classroom," as WWLP reported.
Tom Ashe, director of Parks, Buildings, and Recreation Management, credited in-house crews and "a handful of carefully selected partners" for completing the work affordably.
What's being done?
Three schools are next in line for HVAC work: Liberty School, Mary Lynch Elementary School, and South End Middle School.
Kiley Middle School, Kennedy Middle School, and Duggan Academy round out the expansion list, and city and school leaders are pursuing grants to help cover the remaining work, per WWLP.
Ashe said the goal was to have the equipment ready.
Sarno also said the city is focused on "maintaining functional AC where we already have it."
Where can I learn more?
Districts nationwide are facing rising air-conditioning demand, school energy retrofits, heat pump changes, and alternative cooling designs.
• Across the Northern United States, campuses require more air conditioning as classrooms become dangerously hot.
• In New Bedford, Massachusetts, officials found that geothermal wells and solar power could modernize schools more cheaply.
• In Des Moines, Iowa, one school district posted $25 million in energy savings from building upgrades.
• Across New England, contractors say traditional HVAC systems are taking a back seat to heat pumps.
• In Houston, a building with self-cooling walls is reducing dependence on air conditioning.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
