Lessons from the first U.S. school districts with real-time indoor environmental quality (IEQ) sensors in classrooms: benefits, barriers and opportunities

Abstract With aging buildings, rising temperatures, and limited budgets, school districts in the United States need effective strategies to address classroom environmental issues, secure funding for upgrades, and develop climate resilience plans. Collecting real-time indoor environmental quality (IEQ) data in classrooms can support these goals, yet few districts have adopted comprehensive school environmental monitoring, and little is known about the barriers and facilitators to its use. Understanding the value of this approach to ensure good environmental conditions inside schools, the challenges faced by early adopters, and strategies to overcome them will be essential for broader implementation. During the spring of 2025, we interviewed 13 school staff members from 5 public school districts across the United States that were early adopters of IEQ monitoring. Discussions covered perceptions of IEQ in their districts, benefits of collecting this data, and barriers and facilitators to implementing sensors and leveraging the data collected. Participants identified many uses for classroom IEQ data, including supporting operations (e.g. simplifying environmental audits, remotely validating complaints, holding mechanical ventilation vendors accountable) and sustainability efforts (e.g. advocating for capital upgrades, monitoring wildfire smoke infiltration, predicting mold growth, ensuring medication safety, and student education). Opinions were mixed on publicly sharing the data. Barriers included database complexity, the need for environmental health (EH) and data expertise, high costs, technical challenges, workload, and ethical concerns. Schools addressed these challenges through vendor support, artificial intelligence, and partnerships with academic researchers. Key opportunities to advance environmental equity in schools include improving EH literacy among staff and leadership and establishing indoor air quality standards. This study highlights lessons learned from pioneering districts and demonstrates how IEQ monitoring can improve classroom conditions, support operations and funding, and guide climate resilience and sustainability initiatives. The findings offer valuable insights for school districts, governments, and researchers considering installing environmental monitoring in classrooms.