Prioritizing Indoor Air Quality Post-Covid: The Role of Chalkboards and Innovative Solutions
The global health crisis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic has revolutionized our perception of public health measures, particularly in shared indoor spaces like schools. As we move forward, a clear priority has emerged: improving indoor air quality. This crucial focus aims to create healthier and safer learning environments for students and staff alike.
Covid-19 has underscored the importance of maintaining clean, fresh air indoors to mitigate virus transmission. Schools worldwide are investing heavily in strategies to enhance indoor air quality, from advanced HVAC systems to regular deep cleanings. However, an overlooked aspect in many of these strategies is the role played by traditional classroom mainstays, such as chalkboards.
The Problem With Chalkboards
Chalkboards, a common sight in schools for generations, have an unintended side effect: the creation of chalk dust. Every time a piece of chalk glides across the board, tiny chalk particles are released into the air. This chalk dust, often invisible to the naked eye, can significantly degrade the indoor air quality.
Inhalation of chalk dust is known to cause or exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. This can be particularly harmful for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, adding a layer of health risk in the learning environment.
According to the EPA, an effective way to improve indoor air quality is to practice "source control." This means eliminating the root cause of the air pollution, which, in this case, is the use of chalk and chalkboards in classrooms. Luckily, there are numerous whiteboard options available to replace your school's chalkboards — including our innovative Think Board products.
Use Think Board To Improve Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms
Enter the Think Board. A revolutionary product that allows schools to resurface their existing chalkboards into whiteboards. Using dry-erase markers instead of chalk, Think Board eliminates the production of chalk dust, contributing to cleaner and healthier indoor air.
Traditionally, schools' purchases of Think Board fell under the categories of "instructional materials and furniture." However, given its clear benefits for indoor air quality, there is a strong case for considering Think Board purchases as part of the "indoor air quality" budget. This shift in perspective could pave the way for more schools to adopt this technology, without straining their existing budgets.
Viewing Think Board in the light of air quality improvement not only aligns with the post-Covid focus on clean indoor air but also provides schools with an affordable, practical, and long-term solution to a pervasive issue.
Final Thoughts
In essence, Think Board is more than just an educational tool. It's an innovative solution that addresses several post-pandemic concerns: improving indoor air quality, safeguarding the health of students and staff, and utilizing budget resources efficiently. Transitioning from chalkboards to Think Boards is a step towards healthier, cleaner, and more modern schools.
Check out our entire classroom product collection to see how our innovative whiteboard solutions can improve your school. Think Board offers chalkboard resurfacing services to make the process of switching even easier.
