Worcester to spend $15 million to upgrade schools’ air filtration systems

As Worcester schools will remain closed until at least sometime in November, the district is planning to use the time to implement a $15 million HVAC upgrade campaign intended to make those buildings safe for students’ eventual return.  The school department plans to install special ionization systems in all of the city’s schools by the end of 2020 – a technology that it says is said to deactivate 90% of the coronavirus in the environment, as well as kill 99% ofas well as kill 99% of other pathogens and mold spores.

– News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

HVAC filtration and COVID-19
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Worcester to spend $15 million to upgrade local public schools’ air filtration systems.

In a full court press abundance of caution given the COVID-19, not only has Worcester opted to delay reopening classroom until near the end of the 2020 calendar year, it will also be installing electronic ionization air purification systems which will eliminate 90% of air borne pathogens including COVID-19, influenza and other airborne diseases.

Building Maintenance headquarters’ handicapped access ramp
A QUincy Quarry news exclusive file photo

Conversely, yellow-flagged Quincy is planning to partially reopen local schools shortly and most likely before the City of Quincy Buildings (Maintenance, ed.) Department will be able to both make sure all local school buildings’ existing air filtration systems are in proper working order and install ionization equipment. 

In no way, however, did Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch broach the possibility of relying on a very promising ultraviolet air purification system developed by a local-start-up and which is readily amenable to relatively quick implementation.

Do not forget that the whole thing was then Councillors Doug Gutro and John Keenan’s idea
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Then again, with Honeywell looking likely to ally with this innovative technology, it is not like Honeywell is going to answer inquiry calls from the City of Quincy after the Koch Maladministration arguably shook down Honeywell to score both political gain and have several million in cash to spend as it deems fit on other things rather than to be keep at the ready to address potential alleged problems with Honeywell equipment down the road.

Source: Worcester to spend $15M to upgrade schools’ air systems

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