Nearly 900 colleges and universities in the US are partnering with multinational firm Johnson Controls to ensure the safe return of students this fall by creating and implementing healthy building strategies.
As part of the partnership, the company will help college administrators provide “ambitious and scalable” campus recovery strategies to deliver healthy environments that prioritize students’ wellness, productivity, and safety.
According to Johnson Controls higher education market director Jaime Paris Boisvert, now is the time for academic institutions to invest in indoor air quality and consider a future of healthy living, sustainability, and learning.
He explained that having a healthy campus environment has a “direct positive influence” on student success, so academic institutions must prioritize it along with issues related to COVID-19.
“We’re honored to work on so many forward-looking projects that will optimize the campus experience for years to come. Because while infrastructure has always played a significant public health role, upgrades shouldn’t begin and end with COVID-19,” he said in a press release.
‘Optimizing Infrastructure’
East Central College in Missouri is among the institutions partnering with Johnson Controls to optimize its buildings and create a new standard for safety, wellness, and efficiency.
With the company’s help, products such as high-efficiency MERV-13 filters, UV-C disinfection technologies, upgraded heat pumps, and Metasys® controls were installed in the college’s campus buildings.
“The applied solutions will enable East Central College to improve air quality while maximizing classroom comfort to support improved learning outcomes,” the press release stated.
‘Potential Financial Gain’
Johnson Controls believes that an institution that prioritizes a healthy campus environment can increasingly attract health-conscious students, which, in return, can help the college achieve greater financial gain.
“Schools that get their return to campus right will not only have a successful semester but will remain competitive to health-conscious applicants and donors in the future. How campuses welcome back students this fall can impact revenue for years to come,” Boisvert remarked.