This weekend, CNN will spotlight the extreme dire condition of Americas’ schools and the health hazards posed by poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

According to CNN an estimated 14 million American children attend public schools that are in urgent need of extensive repair or replacement and have unhealthy environmental conditions, including poor air quality, unsafe drinking water and inadequate safety systems.

The segment, which will air on Saturday and Sunday, follows CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta as he visits schools in Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut to examine the impact of indoor air quality on students and school employees.

Alan Wozniak, President/CEO Pure Air Control Services a national environmental consulting firm stated that “as a result of the tough economic times, funds for general maintenance and repair have dwindled to next to nothing allowing schools to deteriorate thus causing amplification of dust, particulate, allergens, mold, bacteria, mycotoxins, organic chemicals, formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) known as chlorinated hydrocarbons and other toxic substances to recirculate in Americas’ schools via the HVAC systems.”

NEA Health Information Network Director Jerry Newberry stated “Poor indoor environmental quality contributes to serious health problems for students and staff, including asthma, allergic reactions, fatigue, headaches and respiratory tract infections.  This causes high rates of absenteeism, and dramatically decreases the ability to concentrate and learn when students actually do make it class.”

The National Education Association is urging Congress to pass the Fix America's Schools Today Act of 2011, which would provide $25B for modernizing and repairing public schools. Many schools in the US suffer from leaky roofs, peeling paint, falling plaster, and exposed electrical wires. Toxins from paint, mold spores from water damage, pollens, bacteria spores, fiberglass fibers, and dust circulate through ancient poorly maintained HVAC systems.

Charlotte County School District is doing their part and have implemented a "Green HVAC Cleaning" program to not only save energy but also to improve indoor air quality and mitigate long-term health risks and allergies associated with indoor air pollutants.

This program introduces a chemical free coil cleaning process called PURE-Steam Coil Cleaning a safe and effective cleaning process used to save energy and create a healthy learning environment for students, school staff and visitors.

As a part of this initiative, the Charlotte County School District has contracted with Pure Air Control Services a national leading indoor environmental contractor with over 25 years of building IAQ experience.  Because the PURE-Steam Coil Cleaning program is totally GREEN (NO CHEMICALS) students, school staff and visitors don’t have to worry about potential dangerous chemicals or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) entering into the air or water system.

Don Terry, Manager of HVAC Maintenance noted that “not only are we saving energy, but we are creating a healthy learning environment for our students and faculty.”

The Facilities Management Department at Florida State University (FSU) is doing their part to create healthy learning environments, but to them, dirty coils were also a pot of gold buried in dust. They found a PURE-Steam coil cleaning process so efficient and safe for the environment that in the first year of its implementation alone saved the university over $800,000 of their power bills and were able to provide the students and teachers a healthier learning environment. The estimated payback in less than eight (8) months was 157% return on investment (ROI).

School environment is determined by a number of factors – including both physical and cultural elements. Does a school have the leadership and spirit to encourage all students to meet high standards? Does a school foster a sense of respect among all – administrators and staff, adults and children?

According to the NEA the federal government must help invest in modern schools for the modern era. Not every school has to be new or fancy. But every school should be safe, clean, and orderly, free from environmental hazards, and wired to be a true healthy learning community.

CNN’s report on indoor air quality in schools airs on Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET.  The program will re-air again at the same times on Sunday, January 15.

To discuss ways to get determine baseline conditions of your school and to understand how to create a Healthy Learning Environment and the PURE-Steam coil cleaning process helping save energy while creating a healthy learning environment call Pure Air Control Services today at 1-800-422-7873.

About Pure Air Control Services:

Founded in 1984 by Alan Wozniak, President/CEO in what began as a small mechanical contracting business has grown into an award winning, industry leading indoor air quality (IAQ) service company serving many fortune 500 corporations, school boards, universities, county, city, state and federal governments and consumers across the US.  The firm has serviced over 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

Pure Air Control Services nationally performed IAQ services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory; Environmental Project Management; and Duct Cleaning & Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services. The company’s expanding client roster includes the General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Florida State University (FSU), Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air the reliable industry leader.

For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.pureaircontrols.com or

Contact:

Alan Wozniak or

Cy Garner

1-800-422-PURE ext 802 or 804 respectively.